Core Insights - The U.S. plans significant changes for Venezuela's oil industry following the ousting of its president, with U.S. companies likely to benefit from the situation [2] - Energy Secretary Chris Wright announced that the U.S. will control Venezuelan oil sales indefinitely, redirecting proceeds to American banks and easing sanctions that have limited the country's crude exports [2] Companies Positioned for Gains - Chevron (CVX) is the only major U.S. oil company still operating in Venezuela, managing joint ventures that account for about 25% of the country's oil output, producing approximately 140,000 barrels per day [7][10] - ConocoPhillips (COP) and Exxon Mobil (XOM) could potentially return to Venezuela to recover up to $12 billion and $1.4 billion in outstanding claims for expropriated assets [8] - Halliburton (HAL) and SLB (SLB) are positioned to benefit from reconstruction contracts due to the need for significant investment in Venezuela's aging oil infrastructure, estimated to cost at least $100 billion over a decade [9][10] Refiners Capable of Processing Venezuelan Heavy Crude - Valero Energy Corp. (VLO) operates 15 refineries with a capacity to process 3.2 million barrels per day of heavy crude, making it well-suited for Venezuelan oil [11] - Phillips 66 (PSX) has refineries in Louisiana and Texas capable of processing hundreds of thousands of barrels per day of Venezuelan grades, although full potential realization may take years [12] - Marathon Petroleum (MPC) has the largest heavy crude processor in the region, with analysts estimating it could capture 20% to 30% of any increased Venezuelan oil flows [13] Economic Considerations - The current oil price range of $57–$60 per barrel poses challenges for investment in Venezuela, with estimates suggesting it would cost $53 billion to maintain production levels of just under 1 million barrels per day over the next 15 years [14][15] - New projects in Venezuela require oil prices around $80 per barrel to be profitable, making investment less attractive compared to other regions with lower breakeven costs [15]

Key Takeaways XLE comes into focus after Trump vows U.S. control of Venezuela's oil after the capture of the leader.CVX is the only U.S. major in Venezuela, positioning it for privileged access to vast oil reserves. VDE offers diversified exposure to U.S. oil majors as investors weigh asset recovery against high costs.The global energy landscape experienced a dramatic upheaval recently following the U.S. military operation that led to the capture of Venezuela’s president, Nicolás Maduro. This bold geopoliti ...

"So they have been running with suboptimal feedstock for years. This will, in time, produce better margins across jet fuel, asphalt, and diesel … I have owned Valero since 2020, and I am more resolved to holding it even longer after this weekend.†Valero Energy has emerged as a key focus for investors after renewed attention on Venezuela's oil sector following the capture of President Nicolas Maduro and US President Donald Trump's push to encourage American oil companies to help revive the country's batter ...

“They acted over the weekend, and I think the knee-jerk reaction is to make the quick but not necessarily correct inference that this is disadvantageous to Canadian energy producers,” said Brian Madden, chief investment officer with First Avenue Investment Counsel.Shares of Canada’s big oil companies lost ground on Monday. Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. fell 6%, while shares in Cenovus Energy Inc. lost 4.8% and Suncor Energy Inc. finished 1.7% lower.Overall, the TSX energy subindex was down 3.6%.The Februa ...

Michael Burry attends the premiere of "The Big Short" at Ziegfeld Theatre on November 23, 2015 in New York City.Michael Burry's quiet bet on Venezuelan oil is coming back into focus.The investor best known for "The Big Short" said he has owned Valero Energy since 2020, a position he views as increasingly attractive as the U.S. moves toward a deeper role in reviving Venezuela's oil industry."Realize that many Gulf Coast refineries were purpose-built for Venezuelan heavy crude," Burry wrote in a Monday blog p ...