Gestión ambiental y sustentabilidad en empresas del sector petrolero del estado Zulia, Venezuela

The objective of the research was to analyze environmental management as one of the elements that contribute to the organizational sustainability of the oil sector in the state of Zulia. Venezuela, particularly from the Zulia region. The research is classified as quantitative, supported by the review and analysis of documents. A Likert scale questionnaire was designed, applied to leaders of the PDVSA Exploración y Producción Occidente company and the conglomerate of joint ventures that carry out operations in the western region of the country. The data were processed using descriptive statistics, allowing to obtain results that demonstrate prevention and control practices with arithmetic means of 3. 31, 2. 91 respectively (values below the range taken as reference) and remediation or mitigation activities, with an average of 4. 04, greater than the one estimated in the reference scale. There is a reactive trend in environmental management planning, in the face of negative effects that oil activity could generate on the environment, and environmental control and restoration activities recognized as important because they allow to mitigate, compensate or repair damages and deviations. There is evidence of passive preponderance in environmental management, and compliance with compensatory measures to reverse negative impacts due to the economic activity carried out.