North American Blue Energy Partners will take over oilfields previously controlled by five Chinese companies and a Russian firm under a sweeping oil production agreement announced by President Donald Trump with Venezuela, two U.S. officials told Reuters. The projects are among 14 contracts newly granted to the U.S.-backed company, which is now controlled by Venezuelan businessman Alejandro Betancourt after previously being owned by U.S. oil tycoon Harry Sargeant. NABEP is expected to control 17 Venezuelan projects in total, develop them and ultimately supply oil to the United States. Trump said last week that the United States had secured access to about 64 billion barrels of Venezuela's proven oil reserves through a partnership with private business. The arrangement would give U.S. companies a foothold in strategically important assets while reducing the role of Chinese and Russian interests in Venezuela's energy sector. The projects include fields operated by China Concord Resources, Sinopec and China National Petroleum Corp, as well as a field previously operated by a Russian company. Two other projects were operated by affiliates of Alex Saab, a former close associate of ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who is in U.S. custody, while another was linked to a nephew of Maduro's wife, Cilia Flores. Talks between Venezuela's interim authorities and representatives of the 2015 National Assembly are focused on restoring a measure of constitutional order and resolving legal questions surrounding the transition. The Trump administration regards the assembly as the last Venezuelan legislative body elected and operating under the country's constitution, although it has no formal governing power. An agreement with the assembly could provide a constitutional and legal basis for the wider transition, including economic decisions tied to reviving Venezuela's oil industry.