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By Deisy Buitrago

CARACAS, June 11 (Reuters) - Venezuela signed five agreements with British oil major Shell SHEL.L on Thursday to advance oil and gas projects, including the company's participation in the coveted 7-trillion-cubic-feet Loran offshore gas field, the government said.

The country had signed preliminary agreements for some of the projects earlier this year with Shell, one of the few foreign companies that have taken early advantage of Venezuela's new energy investment opportunities following the U.S. capture of President Nicolas Maduro.

This time, the parties secured Shell's participation in Loran, a reservoir that extends into Trinidad and Tobago's waters. They also agreed to a technical alliance greenlighting procurement and output expansion at oilfields in Monagas North and to a separate pact to buy equipment and parts to reduce gas flaring.

British BP BP.L is also set to participate in the Loran gas field and in the neighboring Cocuina-Manakin offshore gas project, according to separate agreements with the Venezuelan government signed in April.