Chevron said Monday it would buy Noble Energy in a US$ 5 billion all-stock deal, bolstering its shale presence as a plunge in crude prices have made assets cheaper. The deal, the largest in the U.S. energy sector this year, comes more than a year after Chevron abandoned its offer for Anadarko Petroleum, outmaneuvered by Occidental Petroleum higher bid.
Oil companies Noble Energy and Edison have decided to relinquish their stakes in the PL001 offshore license in the Falkland Islands according to Offshore Energy Today. Argos Resources had held a 100% in the PL001 block before the two companies’ farm-in back in 2015. Argos’ shares fell 30% following the announcement.
Despite current low oil prices, the oil and gas industry in the Falkland Islands is continuing to go from strength to strength as its first project, Premier Oil’s Sea Lion, moves closer to commercialization, according to an analyst with research and consulting firm GlobalData.
Falkland Islands based company, Argos Resources Ltd. said it has received notification from Noble Energy, the operator of license PL001 in which Argos holds a 5% overriding royalty interest, that it is exercising its rights to declare Force Majeure on the well.
Noble Energy with interests in Falklands' exploration, has commenced production from the Big Bend oil development in Mississippi Canyon 698 of the deepwater Gulf of Mexico. Noble and partners expect the single-well field to reach a maximum gross production rate of approximately 20,000 boe/d over the next couple of weeks. Approximately 90% of the volumes being produced from Big Bend are oil, Noble said.
Exploring group Falkland Oil and Gas Ltd. said on Friday the Humpback 53/02-01 exploration well to the southeast of the Falkland Islands has found oil and gas shows, while wire-line logging indicates there are hydrocarbons bearing sandstones within the main target area.
The Argentine government has declared “illegal” and “clandestine” the hydrocarbons' exploration activities carried out off the Falklands/Malvinas Islands by the Houston based Noble Falklands Limited company, according to a resolution by the country's Energy Office.
Falklands focused Argos Resources Limited confirmed the completion by its wholly owned subsidiary, Argos Exploration Limited of a farm out agreement with Noble Energy Falklands Limited and Edison International S.p.A in respect of its Licence PL001.
The most recent meeting of the Falkland Islands' Executive Council (ExCo) was dominated by matters relating to oil exploration and development including recommendations for plans of Noble Energy and Premier Oil to go ahead with drilling of Rhea-1 and Jayne East wells.
Falkland Oil & Gas Ltd told investors that drilling of the deep water Humpback exploration well in South Falkland basin has run into delays. They were described as ‘unforeseen equipment and operational issues’ and it has added just over a month to the schedule – to about 100 days from 65 planned days – so the well results are now expected during September.