Global Data: Venezuela oil sanctions no longer needed at full scale

Crude oil production in Venezuela is experiencing a steep decline estimated at a loss of approximately 500 000 bpd during the last seven months, so tougher sanctions may not be necessary anymore. This decline is expected to worsen throughout 2018 and imposing sanctions targeting crude production could accelerate the collapse of the country’s economy causing deeper harm to its population.

Also, in a wider oil market context where oil demand is set to grow by the end of 2018, more constraints on Venezuelan oil output would be counterproductive to the stability of the market.

Adrian Lara, Oil & Gas Analyst at GlobalData, commented: “Crude oil production in Venezuela is practically falling at an average of 10% every quarter and has been since mid-2017. A scenario with oil production in the country losing at least another 500 mbd by the end of the year is not unrealistic. Having full additional sanctions imposed would certainly send a strong geopolitical message from the US at the risk of generating more instability in the world supply markets.

“Sanctions directly targeting Venezuelan crude exports would surely limit PDVSAs finances with few revenue generating alternatives and maintain the country’s oil sector on the path of continuous underinvestment.”

Read the article online at: https://www.oilfieldtechnology.com/special-reports/01062018/global-data-venezuela-oil-sanctions-no-longer-needed-at-full-scale/