Venezuela has onshore oil of low quality. It needs to be mixed with lighter oils for most refineries. Essequibo offshore oil is high grade oil.
Maduro doesn’t have the resources to extract Guyana’s offshore oil so he would lease it out and take a cut of production. It’s more profitable when the leases are owned/claimed.
This is how socialism builds wealth -by stealing. If you can grab it and defend it it’s yours.
“If you can grab it and defend it it’s yours.”
Communism: What is mine is mine and what is yours is mine.