WASHINGTON/HOUSTON, Nov 7 (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury

Department on Thursday extended a license protecting

Venezuela-owned Citgo Petroleum from bondholders to March 2025,

a key decision as a 7-year case that could see the auction of

the refiner's parent to pay creditors progresses in a Delaware

court.

The Treasury Department also extended to May 2025 a separate

license for U.S. oil service companies Halliburton ( HAL ), SLB

, Baker Hughes ( BKR ) and Weatherford International

to maintain assets in Venezuela amid Washington's

sanction regime on the South American country.