04-08-08 PdVSA will buy two seismic and three oceanographic exploration ships for the Venezuelan navy, giving the armed forces the ability to seek out offshore oil and gas.
The ships will be used to "detect pockets of petroleum at the bottom of the sea, produce maps and everything related to maritime studies," Jose Luis Mendez, chief executive officer of shipbuilder Factorias Vulcano, said. Spain-based Vigo, will build the ships over the next two years.

Demand for survey vessels has risen along with the price of oil and as technology improved for pumping oil from deep-water.
Venezuela currently has an agreement with Cuba to explore Cuban offshore fields.