(Reuters, 24.May.2022) — The U.S. Treasury Department is getting ready to renew in the coming days Chevron Corp‘s license to operate in Venezuela, but likely without the greatly expanded terms the U.S. oil major sought, four people close to the talks said. The last U.S. energy producer in Venezuela asked […]
Tag: PDVSA
NRGBriefs: Maduro tells Venezuelans to be on “maximum alert”
HOUSTON, TEXAS (Editors at Energy Analytics Institute, 23.May.2022, Words: 144) — Energy briefs including Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro warning citizens of the OPEC country to be on “maximum alert” in the face of what he called “terrorist attacks by the national and international right-wing against the Guri hydroelectric complex and […]
Citgo Reports 1Q:22 Net Income of $245mn
(Citgo, 17.May.2022) — Citgo Petroleum Corporation reported net income of $245mn for the first quarter 2022, compared to net income of $21mn for the fourth quarter of 2021 and a loss of $(180)mn for the first quarter of 2021. Reliable operations and favorable market conditions enabled Citgo to generate EBITDA 1 of $518mn for the first quarter of 2022, compared […]
US Moves to Ease a Few Economic Sanctions on Venezuela
(AP, 17.May.2022) — The United States government is moving to ease a few economic sanctions on Venezuela in a gesture meant to encourage resumed negotiations between the US-backed opposition and the government of President Nicolás Maduro. The limited changes will allow Chevron Corp to negotiate its licence with the state-owned […]
US to Ease Some Energy Sanctions on Venezuela
(CNN, 17.May.2022) — The Biden administration will begin to ease some energy sanctions on Venezuela to encourage ongoing political discussions between President Nicolas Maduro and the opposition, two senior administration officials told CNN. The first step, to be announced on Tuesday, will allow Chevron — the last major US oil company still […]
Venezuela Petroleum Chamber President Quintero on the Oil Sector
(Energy Analytics Institute, 16.May.2022) — Venezuela Petroleum Chamber President Reinaldo Quintero spoke with Venezuelan media outlet Globovision on 16 May 2022 about US sanctions imposed on Venezuela, state owned Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) and current production levels and potential to boost production over the short-term, Venezuela’s potential to industrialize flared […]
NRGBriefs: YPF Reports Strong 1Q:22 Results; Ecopetrol Growth
(Energy Analytics Institute, 11.May.2022) — Energy briefs including Argentina’s state-owned YPF delivering strong results during the 1Q:22 and again achieving higher hydrocarbon production; Ecopetrol CEO Felipe Bayón saying the Colombian company will continue to grow in future years; and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Mohammad Barkindo continuing his […]
OPEC’s Mohammad Barkindo Visits Petrocedeño Upgrader
(Energy Analytics Institute, 11.May.2022) — Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA) President Asdrúbal Chávez, and the board of directors of the company received the Secretary General of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Mohammad Barkindo during a “fruitful” meeting at the Petrocedeño upgrader located within the José Antonio Anzoátegui Industrial […]
OPEC’s Barkindo Visits Jose Antonio Anzoátegui Petrochemical Complex
(Energy Analytics Institute, 11.May.2022) —The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Secretary General Mohammad Barkindo and an OPEC delegation visited the ‘Jose Antonio Anzoátegui Petrochemical Complex’ in Anzoátegui State during their working visit to Venezuela. The upgrading complex is composed of four main upgraders and a petrochemical plant. “There have […]
NRGBriefs: CGX, Frontera on Guyana; Barkindo’s OPEC Wind-down
(Energy Analytics Institute, 9.May.2022) — Energy briefs including CGX and Frontera executives briefing the media on the Kawa-1 and Wei-1 exploration wells offshore Guyana; and OPEC Secretary General Mohammad Barkindo (from Nigeria) preparing to step down from his leadership post at the organization in August 2022. LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN […]
NRGBriefs: Nigeria’s Barkindo Visits with Venezuelan Authorities
(Energy Analytics Institute, 7.May.2022) — Energy briefs including the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Secretary General Mohammad Barkindo visiting Venezuela to participate in meetings with the South American country’s high authorities. LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN Venezuela — The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Secretary General Mohammad Barkindo, […]
Venezuela’s Oil Exports Drop 8% in April amid Quality-linked Delays
(Reuters, 6.May.2022) — Venezuela’s oil exports fell 8% in April from the previous month amid continued delays linked to poor-quality crude grades and insufficient oil upgrading capacity available, according to documents and vessel monitoring data on Thursday. U.S.-sanctioned Venezuela recovered a portion of lost production last year, but crude shipments have been […]
Venezuela and Iran to Deepen Oil and Defense Ties
(Energy Analytics Institute, 2.May.2022) — Venezuela’s Oil Minister Tareck El Aissami held a working meeting in Caracas with his Iranian counterpart Javad Owji to discuss deepening bilateral cooperation mechanisms between both countries in the oil and defense sectors. The ministers also reviewed different opportunities for bilateral cooperation in the petrochemical […]
Venezuelan Workers Celebrate May Day with President Maduro
(Energy Analytics Institute, 1.May.2022) — Venezuelan workers from across various sectors together with workers from the still important petroleum sector marched to Miraflores Presidential Palace in Caracas to celebrate international workers’ day together with President Nicolás Maduro. Simultaneous mobilizations also took place in other states across the OPEC country including […]
NRGBriefs: The Vennie-Trini Gas Dilemma; TotalEnergies’ 1Q:22 Results
(Energy Analytics Institute, 28.Apr.2022) — Energy briefs including Venezuela’s inability to develop its gas sector presenting a massive opportunity for neighboring Trinidad and Tobago with its already well-established gas economy and massive four-train Atlantic LNG export complex; Paris-based TotalEnergies reporting 1Q:22 financial results; and Spanish oil giant Repsol reporting production […]
NRGBriefs: Venezuela Receives 185 Mbbls from Iran; Pemex, Exxon 1Q:22 Conf. Calls
(Energy Analytics Institute, 25.Apr.2022) — Energy briefs including Venezuela reportedly receiving 185,000 barrels of 29-degree API petroleum from Iran; Pemex plans to host a conference call on 2 May 2022 to discuss its financial and operational results from the 1Q:22; and Exxon Mobil to hold 1Q:22 conference call on 29 […]
EAI brief analysis: Venezuela’s Faja contains 1,360 billion barrels of OOIP
CARACAS, VENEZUELA (By Piero Stewart, Energy Analytics Institute, 22.Apr.2022, Words: 130) — Venezuela is home to the Hugo Chávez Orinoco Heavy Oil Belt, also known as the Faja, which contains original oil in place (OOIP) estimated at 1,360 billion barrels, making it the world’s largest accumulation of heavy and extra-heavy […]
Wood Mackenzie Foresees Slow Production Recovery in Venezuela
(Energy Analytics Institute, 21.Apr.2022) — Venezuela’s oil production is expected to gradually rise to as much as 1. 3 million barrels per day by 2028, according details revealed by Wood Mackenzie analyst Marcelo De Assis and Elen Simonyan in a recent report. Highlights from the report published on 21 April […]
NRGBriefs: Argentina Inflation Likely to Exceed 6% in March 2022
(Energy Analytics Institute, 13.Apr.2022) — Energy briefs including economists in Argentina expecting inflation in Mar. 2022 to exceed 6%; and Energy Analytics Institute’s short takeaway on US sanctions on the Venezuelan gov’t and PDVSA only worsening living conditions for the majority of Venezuelan citizens. LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN Argentina […]
NRGBriefs: Ecoanalitica Sees Venezuela’s Oil Rising Between 31%-91% in 2022
(Energy Analytics Institute, 6.Apr.2022) — Energy briefs including Caracas-based Econanalitica is forecasting Venezuela’s oil production and oil income will grow in 2022 vs 2021 under three different scenarios; Argentina’s Economic Minister Martín Guzmán meeting with the Argentine Ambassador in Bolivia Ariel Basteiro to discuss issues related to a bilateral agenda […]
Cuba Struggles to Buy Fuel as Imports from Venezuela Dwindle -Data
(Reuters, 5.Apr.2022) — Cuba is struggling to cover a fuel deficit as imports from Venezuela and other countries remain below historical levels and global prices boosted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine make purchases almost unaffordable, according to analysts and data. The Caribbean country, which is dependent on fuel imports mostly […]
Citgo Enters 2022 With Strong Momentum
(Citgo, 31.Mar.2022) — Citgo Petroleum Corporation reported its 2021 fourth quarter and year-end financial results. For the fourth quarter of 2021, Citgo generated net income of $21mn, EBITDA (1) of $236mn and adjusted EBITDA of $139mn, representing the strongest quarterly net income and EBITDA performance since the third quarter of 2019, prior to the start […]
PDVSA Seeks Tankers in Anticipation of US Sanctions Easing
(Reuters, 31.Mar.2022) — Venezuela’s state-run energy firm PDVSA is in talks to buy and lease several oil tankers amid a possible expansion in exports, according to three sources and a document seen by Reuters, a sign the country expects U.S. sanctions on its petroleum sector to be eased. Russia’s invasion […]
NRGBriefs: Venezuela Oil Production Tendencies in Early 2022
(Energy Analytics Institute, 24.Mar.2022) — Energy briefs including Trinidad and Tobago’s Vision 2030 laying out a development agenda to address major National Development Strategy challenges; and a Venezuelan oil expert in Caracas saying that the OPEC country in the early months of 2022 is importing around 60,000 b/d of condensate […]
Chevron, Waiting It Out in Venezuela, Tells US Now Is the Time to Pump Oil
(WSJ, 22.Mar.2022) — For months, Biden administration officials snubbed top executives and lobbyists for Chevron Corp. who had pressed officials in Washington to ease sanctions so the company could boost production in Venezuela, where the U.S. has banned such activities since 2019. Then Vladimir Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine. Now the Biden administration […]
Washington-Caracas talks driven by 3 factors: Datanalisis’ Luis Vicente León says [video]
CARACAS, VENEZUELA (Piero Stewart, Energy Analytics Institute, 18.Mar.2022, Words: 242) — Talks earlier this month between a delegation from Washington and Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro related to 3 issues, according to Datanalisis’ Luis Vicente León, who spoke in a video for HispanoPost via Twitter. Excerpts from his post (see video […]
Defaulted Venezuela Bonds Are Luring Buyers Betting on US Deal
(Bloomberg, 18.Mar.2022) — A bond that trades at 10 cents on the dollar is about as distressed as distressed gets. And yet in Venezuela, which has been mired in default for years, when prices ticked higher around that level this week, it marked a sudden sign of growing optimism. As […]
Venezuelans Feel Pain at the Pump as More Gas Stations Charge in Dollars
(Reuters, 16.Mar.2022) — Venezuelan drivers are feeling the squeeze of nagging gasoline shortages as state oil company PDVSA gradually boosts the number of its gas stations that charge them in dollars, five sources in the South American country said. Three of the sources, who all have access to oil sector […]
Brief History: Venezuela’s Heavy Oils and Extraction Strategies
(Energy Analytics Institute, 13.Mar.2022) — A brief history of Venezuela’s initial crude discovery in 1914 and the eventual move to focus on the Orinoco Heavy Oil Belt. Brief History In 1914, Venezuela’s first important heavy oil field, Mene Grade, was discovered. Initial production from the shallow sands located at 550 […]
Popular thermal recovery methods used in Venezuela
PANAMA CITY, PANAMA (Piero Stewart, Energy Analytics Institute, 13.Mar.2022, Words: 521) — Venezuela has historically utilized various thermal recovery methods to assist in the production of its heavy and extra-heavy crude oil (EHCO). A summary of the four most popular in-situ thermal recovery methods follows. ASSISTING IN THE INCORPORATION PROCESS […]
NRGBriefs: Venezuela’s Short-term Ability to Boost Production
(Energy Analytics Institute, 11.Mar.2022) — Energy briefs including Venezuela’s ability to boost production over the short-term by around 200,000 b/d; and an oil spill occurring offshore eastern Venezuela near Barcelona. LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN Venezuela — Venezuela has capacity over the short-term to possibly boost production around 200,000 b/d […]
NRGBriefs: EP PetroEcuador Lays Out Production Plans 2022-26
(Energy Analytics Institute, 10.Mar.2022) — Energy briefs including Ecuador’s state-owned EP PetroEcuador laying out plans for investments of $12bn to almost double production to 804,323 boe/d by2026; Venezuela’s VP Delcy Rodriguez traveling to participate in meeting w/ Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to “reaffirm friendship bonds and deepen strategic cooperation; […]
US Sanctions Hurt Our National Interests — and the Venezuelan People | Opinion
(Miami Herald, 9.Mar.2022) — Now that President Biden has announced a ban on imports of Russian oil, the United States should reevaluate sanctions against Venezuela, double down on targeted sanctions against individuals and reverse broader sanctions that hurt our national interests and the interests of the Venezuelan people and aid […]
US, Venezuela Discuss Easing Sanctions, Make Little Progress: Sources
(Reuters, 6.Mar.2022) — U.S. and Venezuelan officials discussed the possibility of easing oil sanctions on Venezuela but made scant progress toward a deal in their first high-level bilateral talks in years, five sources familiar with the matter said, as Washington seeks to separate Russia from one of its key allies. […]
Venezuela Claims $80/bbl for its Crude
(Argus, 4.Mar.2022) — The Venezuelan oil ministry publicly reported the price it received for its crude for the first time in nearly two years this week, but observers say the price is significantly inflated. The government claimed it received more than $80/bl for crude during the week ended 4 March, […]
NRGBriefs: YPF’s 4Q:21 and FY:21 Webcast; Citgo Sales Process Moving Forward
(Energy Analytics Institute, 2.Mar.2022) — Energy briefs including Frontera spudding its first exploration well in the Espejo Block in Ecuador; Argentina’s YPF holding its 4Q:21 and FY:21 webcast to discuss financial and operational results; Exxon updating on its operations offshore Guyana during its virtual Investor Day 2022 webcast [PDF download]; […]
Venezuela Assigns Oil to ONGC, Maurel & Prom as They Seek US Approval
(Reuters, 1.Mar.2022) — Venezuela’s state-run oil company PDVSA has agreed to allocate cargoes to producers ONGC from India and Maurel & Prom from France to settle debts, but the deals await U.S. authorizations, two people close to the discussions said. PDVSA in recent months assigned a 2 million-barrel cargo of […]
NRGBriefs: TotalEnergies and APA Corp. Report Suriname Find
(Energy Analytics Institute, 21.Feb.2022) — Energy briefs including TotalEnergies and APA Corp. reporting another significant find offshore Suriname in Block 58; APA Corp. announcing 4Q:21 financial results and planning a conference call to discuss the results; US sanctions on Russia and its ties with Venezuela; PDVSA President Asdrúbal Chávez travelling […]
TotalEnergies Seeks Exit from Venezuelan Gas Projects
(Bloomberg, 10.Feb.2022) — TotalEnergies SE is negotiating an exit from its natural gas operations in Venezuela, just months after the French energy giant closed its oil business in the country. The company is pulling out of its majority stake in YPergas SA, a joint venture in central Guarico state that produces […]
NRGBriefs: BCV Reports Income from FX Sales from PDVSA
(Energy Analytics Institute, 1.Feb.2022) — Energy briefs including Venezuela’s income from foreign currency sales to the Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV) obtained from PDVSA reaching $3.292bn in 2021; and ExxonMobil continuing to progress its low cost of supply deepwater developments in Guyana. LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN Guyana — ExxonMobil […]
Iranian Oil Tanker to Discharge 2 mln Barrels in Venezuela
(Reuters, 31.Jan.2022) — An Iranian supertanker carrying about 2 million barrels of condensate this week began discharging at Venezuelan state-run oil company PDVSA‘s main oil port, according to a company document and tanker tracking services. PDVSA and state-run National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) in the second half of last year started […]
Italy Top Court: Venezuela’s Ex-oil Czar Can’t be Extradited
(AP, 28.Jan.2022) — Italy’s highest court confirmed Friday that Venezuela’s former oil czar cannot be extradited to face corruption charges at home because of his country’s record in violating human rights, his Italian lawyer said. The Court of Cassation upheld a lower court’s ruling in September which recognized that Rafael […]
US Extends Citgo Protection
(AFP, 21.Jan.2022) — The US Treasury on Thursday extended by one year a rule that shields Citgo, a US-based unit of Venezuela’s state-owned oil company PDVSA, from being seized by creditors, the department said. The Houston-based company has been controlled by parties opposed to the government of President Nicolas Maduro since […]
NRGBriefs: CSI Compressco Cash Distribution
(Energy Analytics Institute, 21.Jan.2022) — Energy briefs including CSI Compressco LP’s (NASDAQ: CCLP) BODs of its general partner declaring a cash distribution attributable to the 4Q:21; and PDVSA’s US refining arm Citgo Petroleum being Venezuela’s most priced int’l asset. NORTH AMERICA US — CSI Compressco LP’s (NASDAQ: CCLP) BODs of its general […]
NRGBriefs: PDVSA Debt Stood at $35bn at YE:21
(Energy Analytics Institute, 19.Jan.2022) — Energy briefs including Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro visiting w/ his counterparts in Suriname and Guyana to discuss oil and gas matters; and Venezuela’s state oil giant PDVSA revealing its total debt stood at $34.894bn at YE:21. LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN Brazil — Brazil’s President […]
Venezuela’s Maduro Eyes 2 MMb/d Mark in 2022 [PDF Download]
(Energy Analytics Institute, 15.Jan.2022) — Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro, during his 15 January 2022 annual address to the nation, said the OPEC country’s oil production goal in 2022 was to reach 2 million barrels per day. Excerpts from his speech follow: Highlights — “In December 2021 we achieved an important […]
Venezuela Gasoline Pipeline Damaged in Explosion; PDVSA Blames “Sabotage”
(Reuters, 12.Jan.2022) — Venezuela’s state-owned oil company PDVSA on Wednesday blamed an explosion along a major gasoline pipeline on “criminal sabotage”, adding that the line would be repaired swiftly. Authorities in Venezuela’s eastern Anzoategui state reported the blast late on Tuesday. It was presumably caused by “attempts to perforate the […]
NRGBriefs: Barinas Governor Election in Venezuela
(Energy Analytics Institute, 9.Jan.2022) — Energy briefs including results from the 9 Jan. 2022 governor election in Venezuela’s Barinas state; and the Deer Park refinery sale to Pemex surviving a court challenge in a federal court in Houston. LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN Mexico — The Deer Park refinery sale […]
Venezuela Doubles Crude Oil Exports Defying US Sanctions
(Bloomberg, 3.Jan.2022) — Oil exports from Venezuela doubled in December from a year earlier as the country raises production of revenue-generating hydrocarbons in defiance of U.S. sanctions. Shipments averaged 619,000 barrels a day in December. The OPEC-founding member increased exports for a third straight month with the support of ally […]
Venezuela’s 2021 Crude Output Shows No Growth from Last Year
(S&P Global Platts, 29.Dec.2021) — Venezuelan state-owned PDVSA and its foreign joint venture partners recorded average crude oil production of 560,000 b/d in 2021, according to an internal report reviewed by S&P Global Platts. The average year was slightly below 2020 when production averaged 570,000 b/d and the 2019 record […]