Core Viewpoint - The US is selling Venezuelan oil at prices approximately 30% higher than previous sales, following the capture of Nicolás Maduro, with the first sale valued at around $500 million [1][2]. Group 1: Oil Sales and Pricing - The US Department of Energy reported that the realized price for Venezuelan oil is about 30% higher compared to three weeks ago [2]. - President Trump announced that Venezuela would sell between 30 to 50 million barrels of oil to the US at "market price," with sales expected to continue indefinitely [4]. - Venezuela, holding the world's largest crude reserves at approximately 303 billion barrels, has seen its oil output decline to 800,000 barrels per day from a peak of 3.5 million barrels per day in the 1990s [4]. Group 2: Investment Opportunities - Following Maduro's capture, Trump has engaged with leaders from major oil companies such as Exxon, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips to discuss potential investments in Venezuelan oil [5]. - Chevron is highlighted as a key player due to its long-standing exposure to Venezuela and expertise in heavy oil, while ExxonMobil is also positioned to benefit if redevelopment becomes capital-intensive [10]. - ConocoPhillips, with its experience in heavy oil, is expected to gain if production increases under more stable conditions [10]. Group 3: Market Reactions - Brent crude oil prices increased by 50 cents, or 0.78%, reaching $64.26 per barrel, marking a fourth consecutive weekly gain [10]. - US West Texas Intermediate rose by 48 cents, or 0.81%, to $59.67, with both benchmarks achieving multi-month highs amid concerns of volatility due to protests in Iran [11].

Core Insights - Oil prices have surged approximately 2% following a Ukrainian attack on Russia's Novorossiysk port, raising supply concerns in the market [1] - Brent crude prices rose by $1.50 (2.4%) to $64.51 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate increased by $1.57 (2.7%) to $60.26 per barrel [1] - The Novorossiysk port handled 3.22 million tonnes (mt) of crude oil in October, equating to 761,000 barrels per day, along with 1.79mt of oil products [1] Oil Supply and Demand Dynamics - Earlier in the week, both Brent and WTI benchmarks experienced a decline after the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) projected a balance between global oil supply and demand by 2026, contrasting previous expectations of a supply shortage [2] - The US Energy Information Administration reported a rise in crude inventories by 6.4 million barrels to 427.6 million barrels for the week ending 7 November [2] Sanctions and Market Impact - Ongoing sanctions against Russia have complicated global oil flows, with the US announcing a ban on transactions with Russian oil companies Lukoil and Rosneft, effective after 21 November [3] - JPMorgan estimates that approximately 1.4 million barrels per day of Russian oil, nearly one-third of the country's seaborne export capacity, is currently stored on tankers due to sanctions delaying unloading operations [3] Corporate Developments - US private equity firm Carlyle is reportedly considering options for acquiring Lukoil's overseas assets, which account for about 2% of global oil production [4] - Lukoil's planned asset sale to Swiss-based Gunvor was halted prior to the 21 November sanctions deadline [4] - Lukoil's international holdings represent around 0.5% of worldwide oil output and are valued at approximately $22 billion according to 2024 filings [5]