Two independent US oil and gas producers have agreed to work with Venezuela's state-owned PdV in the Orinoco heavy oil belt.
Representatives for privately held Hunt Oil and Crossover Energy Holdings signed memorandums of understanding in Caracas on Thursday in a ceremony with acting Venezuelan president Delcy Rodriguez.
Details of the projects were not released, but Rodriguez said they were in Monagas state and were rich in both oil and natural gas. Jarrod Agen, executive director of the White House's National Energy Dominance Council, said at the event the deal would include up to $2bn in investments. Agen arrived in Venezuela with a delegation on Thursday.
US charge d'affaires for Venezuela John Barrett also attended the signing event.
The agreements are the latest in a series of deals with energy companies including Eni, Repsol, Chevron and BP in recent days. The US has controlled the flow and funds of Venezuela's energy trade since it seized former leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife on 3 January and is now working closely with the remainder of his administration.
