在最近一次“科学星期五”访谈中，SPE主席詹妮弗·米斯基明斯解释了委内瑞拉庞大的石油储量远比新闻报道所呈现的要复杂得多。虽然委内瑞拉拥有大量的石油储量，但其中大部分是重油——粘稠、呈焦油状，难以开采和提炼。与易于提炼汽油的轻质原油不同，委内瑞拉的重油更适合用于生产柴油、航空煤油和沥青等产品。其下游加工需要专门的炼油厂，其中许多都位于美国墨西哥湾沿岸。
她指出，重油通常含硫量较高，需要额外的加工步骤才能转化为可用燃料。生产重油成本也很高：油井可能需要泵、加热设备来改善流动性较差的原油，以及庞大的基础设施。在委内瑞拉，多年来设施的荒废更增添了另一项重大挑战，使得重建成为一项长期工程，可能需要十年或更长时间以及数百亿美元的投资。
她强调，并非所有石油都能用于生产相同的产品，这也解释了为什么各国经常同时进口和出口不同类型的原油。除非进行额外的加工，否则委内瑞拉石油供应增加更有可能影响柴油或航空煤油的价格，而不是汽油的价格。
米斯基明斯强调，虽然委内瑞拉的资源具有重要的战略意义，但技术难度、基础设施重建和金融风险等因素使得企业持谨慎态度。
In a recent Science Friday interview, SPE President Jennifer Miskimins explained why Venezuela’s vast oil reserves are far more complex than headlines suggest. While the country holds large reserves, much of it is heavy oil—thick, tar-like, and difficult to produce and refine. Unlike lighter crudes that readily make gasoline, Venezuela’s heavy oil is better suited for products such as diesel, jet fuel, and asphalt. Its downstream processing requires specialized refineries, many of which are located along the US Gulf Coast.
She noted that heavy oil often contains higher sulfur content, requiring additional processing steps before it can be converted into usable fuels. Producing it is also costly: wells may require pumps, heating methods to improve flow of the sluggish oil, and extensive infrastructure. In Venezuela’s case, years of neglected facilities add another major challenge, making redevelopment a long-term effort that could take a decade or more and tens of billions of dollars in investment.
She emphasized that not all oil can be used to make the same products, which explains why countries often simultaneously import and export different types of crude. Increased Venezuelan oil supply would be more likely to affect prices for diesel or jet fuel than for gasoline, unless additional processing is applied.
Miskimins highlighted that while Venezuela’s resources are strategically significant, the combination of technical difficulty, infrastructure redevelopment, and financial risk makes companies cautious.