Chevron(US:CVX) Bao Cheng Qi Huo·2025-08-26 12:53Group 1: Report Overview - The report analyzes the impact of the escalating conflict between the US and Venezuela on the crude oil market [3][4]. - The report was published on August 26, 2025, by Baocheng Futures Research Institute [4]. Group 2: Industry Investment Rating - No industry investment rating is provided in the report. Group 3: Core Viewpoints - The US deployment of an expeditionary strike group near Venezuela is an "extreme pressure" tactic, reflecting geopolitical, energy - security, and great - power games [4][8]. - This action brings both a glimmer of hope for the recovery of Venezuela's crude oil industry and seeds of new turmoil [4]. - The future of Venezuela is an important window for observing the game between "US hegemony" and the "multipolar world" [4]. Group 4: Chapter Summaries Introduction: US Sends Fleet to Apply Extreme Pressure on Venezuela - In late August 2025, the US sent an expeditionary strike group to waters near Venezuela under the pretext of anti - drug and security, which is widely seen as a move against the Maduro regime [4][8]. Chapter 1: South American Geopolitical Crisis and Crude Oil Futures Rebound - Due to the South American geopolitical crisis and increased supply risks of Venezuelan crude oil, recent domestic and international crude oil futures prices have stopped falling, stabilized, and rebounded slightly [9]. - US WTI crude oil futures rose from $61.45/barrel to $65.10/barrel, a 5.94% increase; Brent crude oil futures rose from $65.01/barrel to $69.07/barrel, a 6.25% increase; domestic crude oil futures contract 2510 rose from 479 yuan/barrel to 500.8 yuan/barrel, a 4.55% increase [9]. Chapter 2: Historical Crude Oil Feud between the US and Venezuela - The relationship between the US and Venezuela has been a complex "feud" centered around oil, which is a microcosm of global energy, geopolitics, and ideological conflicts [16]. - In the early 20th century, US oil companies dominated Venezuela's oil industry. In the 1970s, Venezuela nationalized its oil resources [16][17]. - After Chavez came to power in 1999, he used oil as an "anti - US tool", which intensified the conflict with the US. Since 2017, the US has imposed sanctions on Venezuela, but in 2023, it relaxed restrictions on Chevron [19][20][21]. Chapter 3: Venezuela, an Energy Power with the World's Largest Oil Reserves - Venezuela has about 303 billion barrels of proven oil reserves, ranking first in the world. In July 2025, its crude oil production was 914,000 barrels per day, and from January to July 2025, it was 6.45 million barrels per day [4][25]. - Its oil resources include conventional oil in the Maracaibo Lake area and heavy oil in the Orinoco Belt. The Orinoco Belt holds about 220 billion barrels of recoverable heavy oil, accounting for over 75% of the country's total reserves [25][27]. - Despite having large reserves, Venezuela's oil production has been severely affected by various factors such as sanctions and management issues. However, it has great potential for recovery [29][30]. Chapter 4: Impact of the US - Venezuela Conflict on Crude Oil Futures Prices - The US military action and economic "selective opening" policy towards Venezuela have complex and far - reaching impacts on the global crude oil market [32][33]. - Short - term supply fluctuations and price risks are intensified. If the conflict worsens, Venezuelan oil exports may be interrupted, causing short - term price jumps [34]. - The trend of diversification of the global crude oil supply pattern is strengthened, and energy nationalism and geopolitical risk premiums may become normalized [34][35]. Chapter 5: Analysis of the Impact of Venezuelan Crude Oil on China's Asphalt - Venezuela is an important source of asphalt raw material imports for China. Its heavy crude oil with high viscosity and high residue content is suitable for asphalt production [39][42]. - Although direct imports from Venezuela have decreased due to US sanctions, the energy complementarity between the two countries still exists, and Venezuelan crude oil may play an important role in China's asphalt industry in the future [42]. Chapter 6: Summary - The game between the US and Venezuela in the crude oil field will continue, and its direction depends on factors such as US domestic politics and economy, the stability of the Maduro regime, and international reactions [43]. - The US military action is a manifestation of geopolitical, energy - security, and great - power games, which affects Venezuela's crude oil industry and the global energy market [44].