Exxon Mobil Corp. and ConocoPhillips refused to sign deals Tuesday that would enable them to keep pumping oil under tougher terms in Venezuela, the government’s oil company said.

Petroleos de Venezuela SA, or PDVSA, said Tuesday it would sign with only four of the six major oil companies involved in lucrative oil ventures in the Orinoco River region – U.S.-based Chevron Corp.; Britain’s BP PLC, France’s Total SA and Norway’s Statoil ASA.

PDVSA said it was taking ownership of ConocoPhillip’s 50.1 percent stake in the Petrozuata project, as well as the La Ceiba block currently under development near western Lake Maracaibo that is 50 percent owned by Exxon Mobil. (AP)