Benton Criticizes Call for Inquiry by Venezuelan

An official of Oxnard-based Benton Oil & Gas Co. branded as “grandstanding” a Venezuelan congressional leader’s demand for an investigation of a contract for Benton to reactivate three of that country’s abandoned oil fields.

The pact calls for Benton to join with a Venezuelan construction firm and an affiliate of the national oil company Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. in reactivating fields said to contain about 100 million barrels of oil.

Congressional leader Pedro Paris Montesinos said the Benton deal, and another involving a Japanese company, should be investigated to see if they violate legal limits on foreign control over national oil assets.

“Only a few members of the opposition party have questioned the contract,” said Gregory Grabar, Benton’s manager of administration. “We won the contract in open public bidding involving more than 200 companies. We’re confident the project will go ahead on schedule.”