According to three informed sources, Venezuela's state-owned oil company PDVSA is in discussions with several joint venture partners, including Chevron, Repsol, and Maurel & Prom, to provide them with expanded areas within their existing project-assigned oil fields. This move is expected to help boost crude oil and natural gas production. The Venezuelan National Assembly approved a comprehensive reform of the country's primary oil law at the end of January, granting foreign oil companies autonomy in operations, exports, and revenue collection, even when they remain minority partners in PDVSA joint ventures. The reform was approved at an unprecedented pace following U.S. efforts to influence President Maduro and Washington's announcement of a $100 billion plan to rebuild Venezuela's energy industry. It provides Venezuela's Ministry of Petroleum, PDVSA, and its commercial partners a six-month period to renegotiate the terms of their joint venture projects. Two of the sources indicated that the approval of the law has accelerated negotiations on regional expansion, particularly with PDVSA's American and European partners, many of whom are awaiting U.S. licenses to authorize expanded operations in Venezuela.