The monthly report issued by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), based on data from secondary sources, shows a slight rise (2.4 percent) in February compared to January, when the South American country's production stood at 2,292,000 bpd.

Meanwhile, there was a 9.4 percent increase over the same period of 2009, when Venezuela's output reached 2,144,000 bpd.

Venezuela is the fourth largest producer in the oil group, over Kuwait's output (2,300,000 bpd).

Likewise, according to data by oil field service company Baker Hughes and OPEC's estimates there were 68 active rigs in Venezuela in February 2010, slightly below the 69 onshore and offshore rigs recorded in the same month of 2009, but higher than the 65 active rigs in January 2010.
dbuitrago@eluniversal.com