A. THE PARTIES 

1. The Claimants are ConocoPhillips Petrozuata B.V., ConocoPhillips Hamaca B.V. and ConocoPhillips Gulf of Paria B.V., three companies incorporated under the laws of The Netherlands (jointly, “ConocoPhillips” or “the Claimants”). 

2. The Respondent is the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (“Venezuela” or the “Respondent”). 

B. PROCEDURAL HISTORY 

3. On November 2, 2007, the Claimants submitted a Request for Arbitration against Venezuela to the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (“ICSID” or the “Centre”) pursuant to Article 36 of the ICSID Convention. On December 13, 2007, the Secretary-General of ICSID registered the Request for Arbitration in accordance with Article 36(3) of the ICSID Convention. 

4. The Tribunal was constituted on July 23, 2008. Its members were Judge Kenneth Keith, a national of New Zealand, appointed as president pursuant to Article 38 of the ICSID Convention; Mr L. Yves Fortier, CC, QC, a national of Canada appointed by the Claimants; and Sir Ian Brownlie, CBE, QC, a national of the United Kingdom, appointed by the Respondent. On February 1, 2010, the Tribunal was reconstituted, with Professor Georges Abi-Saab, an Egyptian national, being appointed by the Respondent, following Sir Ian Brownlie’s passing.