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Energy producers Santos, Repsol check out sale of stakes in Alaska oilfields, sources say

Oil and gas manufacturers Santos and Repsol are exploring a sale of a minority stake in oilfields in Alaska they collectively own and establish in an offer that could be worth about $1 billion, according to people familiar with the matter.

The oilfields include the Pikka project, which is among the largest oil potential customers in Alaska and has actually been valued at about $ 4.5 billion by consultancy company Rystad Energy.

The business are dealing with an investment bank to collectively sell minority stakes in Pikka, together with partial interests in the Horseshoe and Quokka fields that lie in the North Slope area of Alaska, the sources said, requesting privacy as the discussions are confidential.

Repsol and Santos decreased to comment.

The stakes are so-called non-operating positions, meaning the owner gets a share of the profits from the sale of hydrocarbons without requiring to carry out any drilling or be involved in operations. They are required to contribute to their share of costs.

Possible purchaser interest will likely be impacted by factors including legal and ecological dangers, the sources said, warning a deal is not ensured.

There are exceptional legal actions connected to access to roads in an oilfield surrounding Pikka that is owned by an unit of ConocoPhillips, the biggest operator in the North Slope.

North Slope projects have also dealt with heavy opposition from indigenous homeowners and preservation groups, who sought to block Conoco's Willow job without success.

In terms of a possible purchaser (for Pikka), it would be very challenging to draw in a buyer besides ConocoPhillips as of now, stated Atul Raina, vice president of upstream M&A analysis at Rystad. Other large operators in the area are focused on possessions that are currently developed and producing oil, Raina added.

Conoco had previously held speak to buy a 15% stake in Pikka when it was managed by Oil Search, an Australian energy firm that was acquired by Santos for $6 billion in 2021.

Those initial talks ended due to the fact that Oil Search declined to give up its operator rights. It is unclear if Conoco would be interested in the stakes in the Alaska oilfields that are presently for sale.

Conoco decreased to comment.

The Pikka task initially had a hard time to get off the ground, due to the technical difficulties of running in Alaska and was ultimately greenlit in 2022. Santos said last month that it remained on track to get the field under production in 2026.