Chavez says US oil company abandons Venezuela wells

CARACAS, June 7 (Reuters) - President Hugo Chavez said on Thursday a U.S. oil company has abandoned oil wells in Venezuela during his nationalization drive this year in the sector.

The state oil company took over the multibillion-dollar operations of Venezuela's last privately run oil fields on May 1. But Chavez has given the companies involved until June 26 to agree with the government over whether they remain as partners in the projects.

On Thursday, Chavez trumpeted the nationalization of the sector.
"Due to this policy ... some companies even left. There is one Yankee company that left and left the wells abandoned," Chavez said at a political event with university students, without naming any company.

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