18-19 May, 2026

Venezuela Technical Symposium and E&P Summit: Unlocking Opportunities from Exploration to Implementation


Houston, TX

Become a Sponsor

Explore Venezuela at an integrated event exploring the country's geology and E&P opportunities. This 2-day, in-person only event provides a space for both technical and business professionals interested in Venezuela to explore the country's geology, petroleum systems, E&P potential, and above-ground considerations necessary for successful operations in-country.

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Program

Monday, 18 May: Technical Symposium

8:00 AM–8:15 AM
Opening Remarks Ana Maria Goncalves, President-Elect, AAPG Latin America and Caribbean Region (LACR), General Chair; Juan Francisco Arminio, AAPG LACR Delegate, Technical Symposium Chair; Victor Vega, AAPG LACR Corporate Advisor, E&P Summit Chair
Session I: Venezuelan Exploration Potential: Basins, Plays and Opportunities Session Chairs: Linda Montilla, Ecopetrol; Disnahir Pinto, Sociedad Venezolana de Geólogos
8:15 AM–9:00 AM
Keynote: Venezuelan Petroleum Systems and Prospectivity Jairo Lugo, Exploration Director, Latam Oil & Gas
9:00 AM–9:30 AM
Updated Synthesis of Plate Boundary Controls on Venezuelan Basin Development

Jim Pindell, Tectonic Analysis Ltd. and Rice University

9:30 AM–10:00 AM
Southwest Caribbean Venezuelan Basins

David Sanford-Lewis, Global Tectonics

10:00 AM–10:30 AM
Break
10:30 AM–11:00 AM
Northern Venezuela Offshore Basins

Raul Ysaccis, SLB

11:00 AM–11:30 AM
Extension of Guyana Play

Andrew Pepper, This is Petroleum Systems, LLC, University of Houston

11:30 AM–12:00 PM
EUR and CCS

Zapatos Reservoir Management, Beicip-Franlab*

12:00 PM–12:15 PM
Interactive Q&A with Presenters and Chairs
12:15 PM–1:30 PM
Lunch
Session II: From Data to Decisions: Emerging Technologies for Hydrocarbon Exploration and Development Session Chairs: Raul Cova, Qeye; TBD, Venezuelan Geophysical Society
1:30 PM–2:00 PM
Keynote: Technical Outlook: Orinoco Oil Belt and Mature Sedimentary Basins Beicip-Franlab*
2:00 PM–2:20 PM
Technologies for Mature Fields

Alejandro Hernandez, Baker Hughes

2:20 PM–2:40 PM
Advances and Technologies in Heavy Oil Developments

Francisco Tarazona, Halliburton

2:40 PM–3:00 PM
Completions Technologies

William Antonio, SLB*

3:00 PM–3:30 PM
Break
3:30 PM–3:50 PM
Critical Value of Legacy Information for Investment Decisions in Mature Basins

Katya Casey, U3 Explore

3:50 PM–4:10 PM
Seismic Inversion Technologies

Lumina

4:10 PM–4:30 PM
Geosteering

Rafael Aguilar, ROGII

4:30 PM–4:50 PM
How the Energy Reconstruction Can Create Jobs in Venezuela Oman Oquendo, President, VAPA
4:50 PM–5:00 PM
Day I Closing Remarks by Event Chairs
5:00 PM–6:00 PM
Networking Reception

Tuesday, 19 May: E&P Summit

8:00 AM–8:15 AM
Opening Remarks Ana Maria Goncalves, President-Elect, AAPG Latin America and Caribbean Region (LACR), General Chair; Juan Francisco Arminio, AAPG LACR Delegate, Technical Symposium Chair; Victor Vega, AAPG LACR Corporate Advisor, E&P Summit Chair
8:15 AM–8:45 AM
Opening Keynote Kyle Haustveit, Assistant Secretary, United States Department of Energy*
Session III: Navigating Venezuela’s Hydrocarbon Landscape: Law, Geopolitics and Operators Session Chairs: Shangyou Nie; Victor Vega
8:45 AM–9:10 AM
Latin America Energy Outlook

Francisco Monaldi, Director, Latin America Energy Program, Baker institute, Rice University

9:10 AM–9:35 AM
Venezuelan Context in Latin America

Bob Fryklund, Chief Strategist Upstream, S&P Global

9:35 AM–10:00 AM
Fiscal and Commercial Considerations for Investing in Venezuela

Noble Pendergrass, Principal Economist – Americas, Wood MacKenzie

10:00 AM–10:30 AM
Break
10:30 AM–12:00 PM
Panel – Operator Insights: Perspectives from Companies Operating in Venezuela Moderator: Victor Vega, AAPG
12:00 PM–12:30 PM
Special Presentation: The Reopening of Venezuela’s Upstream Through a PSA: Insights and Case History

Max Torres, Managing Partner, Plata Energy*

12:30 PM–1:30 PM
Lunch
Session IV: From Reserves to Markets: Gas and Infrastructure in Venezuela Session Chair: Carlos Sánchez, VAPA
1:30 PM–2:00 PM
Venezuelan Effect on the Oil and Gas Demand Forecast for the Next Decade Rob Cordray, Rystad Energy*
2:00 PM–3:15 PM
Panel – Monetizing Gas: Linking Venezuelan Resources to Regional Demand Chair: Oman Oquendo, VAPA • Xavier Moonan, Exploration Manager, Touchstone Exploration•Tomas Zapata, Director of Global Exploration, Repsol• TBD Sucre Energy
3:15 PM–3:30 PM
Break
3:30 PM–4:45 PM
Panel – Infrastructure and Logistics: Enabling Venezuela’s Energy Future Chair: Tomás Mata, Oil and Gas Entrepreneur • Mario Tommaselli, Chief Operating Officer – Project Delivery and Services, TECHNIP • Chris Burson, Business Development for the Americas, Wood • TBD, KBR • Miguel Bocco, Innovation Team Leader, VEPICA
4:45 PM–5:00 PM
Closing Remarks by Event Chairs
5:00 PM–6:00 PM
Networking Reception

*Invited speaker, but not confirmed

Sponsorship
Become a Sponsor

Showcase your support of geoscience, technical exchange, and new opportunities as a Technical Symposium and E&P Summit sponsor.

Your sponsorship  will help to make this historic event possible and will support the next generation of geoscience leaders in Venezuela and throughout the region. 

Sponsoring companies receive one complimentary event registration for every $US 5000 contributed.  

Contact [email protected] for additional information and to confirm your support

Become a Sponsor

Venue

Venue
Houston, TX
Houston, Texas United States

Lodging

The Venezuela Technical Symposium and E&P Summit will be held in Houston in mid-May 2026. Please check back for the event location and dates.

Hotel
Houston, TX
Houston , Texas United States

Pricing

Early Registration
(Payment made by April 10)
  • $795 - Professional nonmembers
  • $695 - Professional members*
  • $495 - Professional one-day only
  • $345 - Academic+
  • $145 - Student+ nonmembers
  • $125 - Student+ members*
Full Registration
(Starting April 11)
  • $895 - Professional nonmembers
  • $795 - Professional members*
  • $595 - Professional one-day only
  • $445 - Academic+
  • $195 - Student+ nonmembers
  • $165 - Student+ members*

*Member rate applies to AAPG members who have paid their dues for the current fiscal year. 

+Academic and student rates apply to individuals currently on staff or enrolled at an academic institution.

The registration fee includes access to technical and business sessions,  lunch and coffee breaks. 

Committee

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Ana Maria Goncalves
General Chair
Latin America and Caribbean Region President-Elect
AAPG
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Juan Francisco Arminio
Technical Symposium Chair
AAPG Latin America and Caribbean Region Delegate
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Victor Vega
E&P Summit Chair
Corporate Advisor
AAPG Latin America and Caribbean Region
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Lorena Moscardelli
Convener
Director, Bureau of Economic Geology
University of Texas at Austin
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Shangyou Nie
Convener
Editor "Well Read" Newsletter
Non-resident Felow
Columbia University