The type of oil found in Venezuela is known as heavy sour crude. It contains higher concentrations of carbon, sulfur, and other elements, making refinement a much more energy- and carbon-intensive process. Methane flaring and leakage are also much more common. Compared to the global average, each barrel of oil produced in Venezuela is associated with twice as much climate pollution, and oil and gas operations are six times more methane-intensive. This is especially concerning when you consider just how potent methane is at driving global heating.