Centrica, the parent company of British Gas, said it has completed its $1,525 million (£936 million) agreement with Statoil Petroleum to acquire a package of producing and development oil and gas assets in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea.
An additional payment of up to $100 million (£61 million) is contingent on future production performance of the largest asset in the portfolio, Kvitebjørn.
The transaction was announced on 21 November 2011 and adds 117 million barrels of oil equivalent (mmboe) of 2P reserves to Centrica’s Norwegian portfolio as well as attractive development potential. It is expected to increase Centrica’s production by 34,000 boe per day (12 mmboe per annum), strengthening the company’s energy hedge and extending its production profile.
The company also said that it has completed its acquisition of ConocoPhillips’ non-operated interests in the gas and oil producing Statfjord field and associated satellites. The $223 million (£137 million) transaction, announced on 30 January 2012, includes $103 million (£63 million) attributable to historic tax allowances and takes Centrica’s equity in the Statfjord field to 34.3%, adding 36 mmboe of 2P reserves.
Combined, the transactions increase reserves by nearly 40% and are expected to increase production by over 30%.
Commenting on the completion, Mark Hanafin, Managing Director of Centrica Energy , said: “ These acquisitions mark an important step in Centrica’s strategy to grow its upstream business. As well as being one of the top three gas producers in the UK, we have one of the fastest growing companies in Norway, with around a third of our gas and oil production now coming from the region ”.
[mappress] LNG World News Staff, May 3, 2012; Image: Statoil