--- title: "ExxonMobil signs preliminary Venezuela oil deal" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/business/exxonmobil-signs-preliminary-venezuela-oil-deal" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/exxonmobil-signs-preliminary-venezuela-oil-deal" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/business/exxonmobil-signs-preliminary-venezuela-oil-deal.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/exxonmobil-signs-preliminary-venezuela-oil-deal" category: "Business & Economy" area: "Latin America" published: "2026-11-10T05:46:19.903Z" source_reported: "2026-11-10T05:15:17.645Z" updated: "2026-11-10T05:46:19.903Z" trust_score: 60 critic_score: 65 hype_score: 45 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-11-10T05:30:36.307044+00:00" --- # ExxonMobil signs preliminary Venezuela oil deal *The agreement marks a potential return for the US energy giant after a 16-year absence.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 60 of 100, higher is better. The central claim is attributed to named bodies and supported by multiple independent outlets. - Craft 65 of 100, higher is better. The reporting includes quotes from affected parties and names specific individuals involved. - Hype 45 of 100, lower is better. The headline promises a return, while the article details a preliminary agreement to explore opportunities. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Venezuela and ExxonMobil signed a memorandum of understanding on November 10, 2026, to evaluate oil exploration and production. - The agreement is a preliminary step towards ExxonMobil's potential return to Venezuela after its departure in 2007. - Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela's interim president, and Dan Ammann, president of ExxonMobil Upstream, attended the signing. - ExxonMobil previously left Venezuela in 2007 following the nationalisation of its oil fields. Venezuela and the US energy company ExxonMobil signed a memorandum of understanding on November 10, 2026. The agreement is a preliminary step that could lead to ExxonMobil's return to the South American nation, from which it departed in 2007. The signing ceremony took place in Caracas and was attended by Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela's interim president, and Dan Ammann, president of ExxonMobil Upstream. The memorandum covers the evaluation of oil exploration and production opportunities. ExxonMobil previously left Venezuela in 2007, along with other foreign companies, after then-president Hugo Chávez nationalised the remaining oil fields operated by the private sector. This new agreement follows months of negotiations, according to Rodríguez. ## Disagreement on the date of signing ExxonMobil stated that the memorandum of understanding was signed on Monday, November 9, 2026, according to reports from The Rio Times and Aporrea. However, Efecto Cocuyo, Clarin, Globo, El Carabobeño, and Reuters all reported the signing occurred on Monday, November 10, 2026. Prensa Latina also reported the signing occurred on November 9. ## What the coverage left out None of the left, centre, or right-rated reports mention the specific date of November 10, 2026, for the signing of the memorandum of understanding. While some reports indicate the signing occurred on a Monday, the precise date is not consistently stated across the evaluated coverage. ## Who covered it Shares of the 7 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 14% (1) - Centre: 29% (2) - Right: 57% (4) 6 of 13 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-11-10T05:30:36.307044+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 2 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-11-10T06:15:33.465Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The left-rated report from Efecto Cocuyo led with ExxonMobil signing a memorandum of understanding with Venezuela with a view to returning to the country. It stated that the agreement covers brownfield and greenfield sites with "billions of barrels of reserves." The report quoted Rodríguez saying the deal was "very important" and achieved after "months of negotiations for an effective return" of ExxonMobil. It also mentioned that following the capture of Nicolás Maduro in a US military intervention on January 3, President Donald Trump had been urging US energy companies to invest in Venezuela. ### Centre - The centre-rated reports from Political Wire and Reuters both led with ExxonMobil striking a deal or signing a preliminary agreement to return to or assess oil opportunities in Venezuela. Political Wire cited the New York Times, stating Exxon Mobil reached a preliminary deal that brings it a step closer to returning. Reuters reported that ExxonMobil said it signed a memorandum of understanding with Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA to assess upstream oil opportunities, marking a potential return after its assets were expropriated nearly two decades prior. ### Right - The right-rated reports from Clarin, Globo, The Rio Times, and Seeking Alpha all focused on the preliminary agreement between Venezuela and ExxonMobil for the company's potential return. Clarin and Globo highlighted the preliminary nature of the agreement after a 16-year absence. The Rio Times noted Exxon signed a non-binding memorandum with PDVSA to explore Venezuelan oil, its first formal step back after nearly two decades. Seeking Alpha's headline mentioned Exxon signing an MoU to explore oil opportunities in formerly 'uninvestable' Venezuela, referencing comments by CEO Darren Woods earlier in the year. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - high: 5 - unknown: 6 - veryHigh: 2 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Globo](https://oglobo.globo.com/economia/noticia/2026/11/10/gigante-americana-de-petroleo-assina-acordo-preliminar-para-retornar-a-venezuela.ghtml) — American Oil Giant Signs Preliminary Agreement to Return to Venezuela - [Aporrea](https://aporrea.org/actualidad/n425894.html) — Exxon Signs a Preliminary Agreement with Venezuela to Evaluate Oil Opportunities - [www.prensa-latina.cu](https://prensa-latina.cu/2026/11/09/venezuela-y-exxonmobil-firman-memorando-de-entendimiento) — Venezuela and ExxonMobil Sign Memorandum of Understanding - Noticias Prensa Latina - [El Carabobeño](https://el-carabobeno.com/venezuela-firma-memorando-de-entendimiento-con-exxonmobil-con-vistas-a-su-retorno-al-pais) — Venezuela Signs Memorandum of Understanding with ExxonMobil with a View to Their Return to the Country - [The Rio Times](https://riotimesonline.com/exxon-signs-preliminary-venezuela-oil-pact) — Exxon Signs Preliminary Venezuela Oil Pact - [Efecto Cocuyo](https://efectococuyo.com/economia/exxonmobil-firma-venezuela-memorando-de-entendimiento) — ExxonMobil Signs Memorandum of Understanding with Venezuela with a View to Returning to the Country - [Clarin](https://clarin.com/estados-unidos/venezuela-firma-memorando-de-entendimiento-con-exxonmobil-con-vistas-a-su-retorno-al-pais_0_Ih44iITkOt.html) — Venezuela Signs Memorandum of Understanding with ExxonMobil with a View to Their Return to the Country - [La República](https://larepublica.co/globoeconomia/exxon-firma-acuerdo-preliminar-con-venezuela-para-evaluar-oportunidades-petroleras-4521039) — Exxon Signs Preliminary Agreement with Venezuela to Evaluate Oil Opportunities - [Political Wire](https://politicalwire.com/2026/11/09/exxon-strikes-deal-to-return-to-venezuela) — Exxon Strikes Deal to Return to Venezuela - [Seeking Alpha](https://seekingalpha.com/news/4669417-exxon-signs-mou-to-explore-oil-opportunities-in-formerly-uninvestable-venezuela) — Exxon signs MoU to explore oil opportunities in formerly 'uninvestable' Venezuela (XOM:NYSE) - [BizToc](https://biztoc.com/x/50e650a3cad6ecf9) — Exxon Takes First Step Toward Investing in Venezuela - [El Economista](https://eleconomista.com.mx/empresas/exxon-firma-memorando-entendimiento-pdvsa-evaluar-oportunidades-petroleras-venezuela-20261109-843015.html) — Exxon Signs Memorandum of Understanding with PDVSA to Evaluate Oil Opportunities in Venezuela - [Reuters](https://reuters.com/business/energy/exxon-signs-preliminary-agreement-with-venezuela-evaluate-oil-opportunities-2026-11-09) — Exxon signs preliminary agreement with Venezuela to assess oil opportunities ## Questions **What is the significance of the agreement between Venezuela and ExxonMobil?** The agreement is a memorandum of understanding that serves as a preliminary step towards ExxonMobil's potential return to Venezuela. The US energy giant had previously left the country in 2007 after its oil fields were nationalised. **Who was present at the signing of the memorandum of understanding?** The signing ceremony was attended by Delcy Rodríguez, who is Venezuela's interim president, and Dan Ammann, the president of ExxonMobil Upstream. Their presence indicates the high-level nature of the preliminary agreement. **When did ExxonMobil last operate in Venezuela?** ExxonMobil departed from Venezuela in 2007. This was part of a broader trend of foreign companies leaving the country after then-president Hugo Chávez nationalised the remaining oil fields that were operated by the private sector. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/business/exxonmobil-signs-preliminary-venezuela-oil-deal. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "ExxonMobil signs preliminary Venezuela oil deal", https://mediabias.news/business/exxonmobil-signs-preliminary-venezuela-oil-deal