With storage tanks full, ships blocked, and the American naval circle tightening, Venezuela's state oil company is resorting to the ultimate measure. The decision to close oil wells marks a new, dramatic phase in the country's energy and geopolitical crisis. According to a Bloomberg report citing well-informed sources, state oil giant PDVSA began shutting down wells on December 28. This move comes as storage facilities have reached their capacity limits and inventories are rising sharply due to the inability to export crude oil under the current blockade.
Deep cuts in production
The same sources revealed that PDVSA intends to reduce production in the Orinoco Basin by at least 25%, limiting it to 500,000 barrels per day. This reduction corresponds to a drop of approximately 15% in Venezuela's total national production, which is currently estimated at 1.1 million barrels per day. The decision follows efforts by the government of President Nicolás Maduro to maintain oil exports—the country's primary source of revenue—despite the presence of the U.S. Navy. One source emphasized that the closure is considered a "last resort" due to the immense operational difficulties and prohibitive costs of restarting them in the future. PDVSA reportedly approved the cutback plan on December 23.
The strategy outlines implementation in successive stages. Initially, oil wells in the Junín field will close, which produces the heaviest crude oil in the Orinoco region. Subsequently, the process will expand to the Ayacucho and Carabobofields, where slightly lighter types of heavy oil are extracted. The Orinoco Belt (Spanish: Faja Petrolífera del Orinoco) in Venezuela represents one of the largest oil reserves in the world. It is located in the southern part of the Orinoco River basin and spans an area of approximately 55,000 square kilometers. Venezuela holds the world's largest proven crude oil reserves in 2025, exceeding 300 billion barrels, with the majority concentrated in the Orinoco Belt.
This is primarily extra-heavy crude, which is particularly viscous and requires specialized technology and the use of diluents (such as naphtha) for its extraction and transportation.
The American blockade
Washington first imposed extensive sanctions on Venezuela's oil industry in 2019. However, the situation escalated dramatically in December 2025 when President Donald Trump ordered a full military naval blockade, claiming the measure was necessary to intercept drug cartels. Despite these pressures, China remains the primary buyer of Venezuelan oil. However, the naval blockade has made cargo transportation increasingly dangerous and difficult, intensifying a crisis that now reaches the country's very subsoil.
Revelation: CIA preparing shock and awe in Venezuela
The Americans are set on dismantling yet another country, and naturally, their architect is the CIA. In early December, the CIA conducted the first recorded attack inside Venezuela, using drones against a port facility on the country's coast. The raid, as reported by CNN, targeted a remote port allegedly used by the Tren de Aragua organization for drug trafficking, but the essence is the blatant military intervention of a foreign power in a sovereign state. According to information made known to CNN by sources with knowledge of the situation, earlier this month the CIA carried out a drone attack against a port facility on the Venezuelan coast. This constitutes the first recorded instance of the United States attacking a target within this country.
The details
As CNN reports, the attack, the details of which had not previously been publicized, targeted a remote port on the Venezuelan coast. The American government estimates that the facility was used by the Tren de Aragua organization to store drugs and load them onto boats for transport. Sources report that at the time of the attack, no one was present on-site, resulting in no casualties. The intelligence support for the operation was undertaken by U.S. Special Operations Command, a fact that suggests the ongoing involvement of U.S. special forces in the region.
"Surgical strike"
According to sources, at the time of the attack, there were no people on the site and casualties were avoided, but the strike has a primarily symbolic character. The area and the ships associated with it were neutralized, sending a message that Washington is ready to act uncontrollably on the territory of other states. The operation was supported by U.S. Special Operations Command, underlining the continued involvement of the US in Latin America through military means. President Donald Trump confirmed the attacks, referring to a "significant target where ships originate" and describing the area as a "loading zone that no longer exists." The terminology and tone clearly show the intention for open military action and control of foreign territory, despite diplomatic declarations regarding the fight against drugs.
Target: Maduro
This attack could significantly aggravate the already strained relations between Washington and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, upon whom the US is exerting pressure aimed at his removal, actively utilizing military measures. The attack is part of a series of U.S. military actions in Venezuela, where over 30 ships have already been destroyed in the Caribbean and the Eastern Pacific, while blockades have been imposed on sanctioned oil tankers. The US has already carried out operations in which more than 30 ships were destroyed in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific regions as part of the so-called campaign against drug smuggling. Additionally, Trump ordered the blockade of oil tankers heading to or from Venezuela that are subject to sanctions. Previously, Trump had repeatedly threatened strikes within Venezuela itself. However, before the recent CIA attack, the only known U.S. actions were strikes on ships suspected of carrying drugs located in international waters.
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