by Rhonda McBride
Monday, January 25, 2010
ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- ConocoPhillips and a Norwegian company, Statoil, are teaming up to work Conoco's leases in the Chukchi Sea.
Statoil will have a 25 percent interest in the leases, but ConocoPhillips will manage the unit and retain controlling interest.
The two companies have conducted joint operations for more than 30 years on the Norwegian outer continental shelf.
ConocoPhillips says Statoil's expertise in drilling in harsh climates compliments its work in Alaska.
As part of the deal, ConocoPhillips will acquire half of the working interest in Statoil's Gulf of Mexico leases.
Conoco says having Statoil as a partner will make exploration in the Chukchi easier.
"Statoil has got a lot of experience working around the world. They're one of the leading companies for offshore exploration, so they bring a lot of expertise, particularly in harsh environments in northern latitudes," said Geoff Haddad, the exploration manager for ConocoPhillips-Alaska.
