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Chevron, Exxon in conflict over Hess stake in Guyana oil block

Exxon Mobil Corp. said on Monday it may preempt Chevron Corp's acquisition. of a 30% stake in a huge Guyana oil block, the centerpiece of. its offer for Hess Corp.

. The business are in talks on Exxon's claim it has a. to initially refusal of any sale of the Stabroek block, a giant. field off the coast of Guyana which contains a minimum of 11 billion. barrels of oil.

The disagreement between the leading U.S. oil producers could end. Chevron's $53 billion deal for Hess, Chevron warned in a. securities filing. If the deal falls part, Hess might be responsible. for a $1.7 billion separation charge.

Hess shares fell more than 3% in late trading. Chevron. fell nearly 1%.

Exxon said in a statement it wishes to guarantee it will. preserve our right to understand the considerable worth we have actually. created and are entitled to in the Guyana asset, including it is. working carefully with the Guyanese government to guarantee their. rights and advantages.

You have to presume that Chevron made a company. choice that Exxon wouldn't attempt to preempt, stated Dan. Pickering, chief investment officer at Pickering Energy. Partners.

The 2 business are partners in projects elsewhere and. the disagreement signals how valuable the Guyana jobs are to. Exxon, he said.

It clearly indicates that 30% of Guyana is actually. valuable and possibly they believe that Chevron is getting in too. cheaply, Pickering stated, including Right now, it seems like a food. fight.

Exxon operates all production in Guyana with a 45% stake. in the consortium with Hess and China's CNOOC as its. minority partners. In October, Chevron proposed to purchase Hess

largely to acquire

the Guyana stake.

Chevron stated it thinks the talks will lead to an. result that will not delay, restrain or avoid the consummation. of the merger. However, it likewise said the disagreement could wind up. in arbitration if the 2 sides can not reach a settlement.

The right of first rejection arrangement is not appropriate. to the merger. We are fully devoted to the deal and do. not believe the ROFR or these discussions will avoid its. effective completion. Chevron and Hess said.

An interruption of the deal terms would be a significant blow to. the U.S. second largest oil manufacturer, which has actually been attempting to. broaden production into lower cost fields in the Americas.

Guyana has actually been trying to bring in more large oil. producers to water down Exxon's supremacy of the nation's energy. output. It just recently

held an offshore block auction

that drew bids by TotalEnergies, Petronas and. Qatar Energy.

The Hess acquisition has been stalled by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's ask for extra info on. the merger. That request pressed back any near to at least the. middle of this year, and the Exxon claim could extend it. even more.

The Exxon-led consortium has stated it anticipates to triple. Guyana's oil output to more than 1.2 million barrels of oil per. day by 2027.

(source: Reuters)