1.
GV Oil gushing from ground and spreading over field (2 shots)
0.16

2.
GV showing earth banks near road containing oil (3 shots)
0.30

3.
Sv Farmer arrives and watches oil gusher (2 shots)
0.37

4.
CU Oil gusher ZOOM OUT TO GV same
0.54



Initials RH/1922 RH/MF/AW/1930



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: While the rest of the world suffers anxiety over the prospects of an oil shortage, a farm in rural Venezuela is literally flooded with the stuff - without intervention from mankind.

At first the residents of Anaco farm, in the state of Anzoategui about 400 kilometres (250 miles) from Caracas, thought that a pipeline had burst when one of their grazing pastures turned into an oilfield - complete with a 40 metre (yard)-high gusher.

But investigation revealed that the crude oil was spouting from the ground of its own accord. Experts brought in to assess the situation estimated that about 100,000 barrels had flooded out into the countryside and emergency measures were taken to contain it, so that further damage to agricultural land could be prevented. Earth banks were also built to protect a nearby road.

The oil lake at Anaco is now nearly three metres (yards) deep and natural has is also leaking from the geyser, which continues to spout to a height of about 2 metres (yards) above the surface of the lake. The residents of Anaco say that unless the Venezuelan authorities can do something to stop the flow they will have to evacuate their homes and move to higher ground.

Venezuela's oil industry was nationalised in January this year after over 50 years of foreign control. At present exports are at the level of 2,220,000 barrels per day, with a further 10,000 barrels held for domestic use. The industry employs over 30,000 workers and is responsible for around 85 per cent of the country's foreign exchange.