Chevron, Eni and Repsol's Operations in Venezuela Unaffected by Earthquakes

By Adam Whittaker

Oil companies Chevron, Eni and Repsol said their operations continue in Venezuela on Thursday, a day after powerful earthquakes killed more than 160 people.

The companies said their assets remain operational after two earthquakes hit the north of the country at 5pm local time Wednesday. A 7.2-magnitude quake was quickly followed by a second, 7.5-magnitude quake, killing an estimated 164 people and leaving 1,000 people injured.

Chevron has three onshore projects located in western and eastern Venezuela that focus on heavy crude. Italy's Eni has gas assets, which it says supply 50% of the demand for the country's gas-fired power plants. Spain's Repsol also has several projects including a joint venture with Eni in the Perla gas field that continues to produce gas for the Venezuelan power system.

Shell said all of its employees in the country were accounted for.

Venezuela's oil industry has been damaged by years of underinvestment. The U.S. ousting of strongman Nicolas Maduro has helped open the sector up but Western oil companies remain cautious after being scarred by the nationalizations of energy infrastructure that have cost them billions of dollars.

The majority of the of the country's production facilities are located in the Orinoco Belt, which is in northeastern Venezuela, and the Maracaibo basin in the North West.

At President Trump's urging some oil companies are taking another look at Venezuelan projects but few have any committed funds. Even if investments are made it would be years before the country's oil production returns to historical levels.

Write to Adam Whittaker at adam.whittaker@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

June 25, 2026 10:13 ET (14:13 GMT)