The Listín Diario reported that executives of Murfin Dominicana, the Bayton Geophysical Inc. affiliate, are optimistic there may be commercially exploitable petroleum in Azua, a province about an hour and a half drive west of Santo Domingo. Spokesman Rafael Antonio Noboa said the company is hopeful that petroleum of the kind found in Saudi Arabia can be located. He said exploration works will be completed within 18 months. The concessionaire is utilizing computerized exploration technology, that uses satellites to help locate the petroleum deposits. He recalled that during the administration of Julio Sauri at the Corporación Dominicana de Electricidad (CDE), the state electricity utility, Azua petroleum was used to feed local electricity generators. Noboa estimated that there could be upwards of 22,000 million barrels in the Azua area. He said they have detected that natural gas in the area could supply the province’s needs.
