Following Santos' proposed takeover offer for Oil Search, which has major stakes in Papua New Guinea’s emerging LNG sector, a bidding war could emerge. Likely acquirers include ExxonMobil and TotalEnergies, both of which have big shares in the PNG projects.
Australia’s Santos said today that it approached compatriot Oil Search about a potential merger last month. However, the offer to create an energy company with a market value of $16.1 billion was rejected by Oil Search, which has major stakes in Papua New Guinea’s (PNG’s) emerging liquefied natural gas (LNG) sector.
Oil Search managing director Keiran Wulff has suddenly resigned from the Australian-listed company following complaints about his behaviour and ill health. This leaves the Papua New Guinea-focused oil and gas producer in an uncertain position as it seeks new leadership.
Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund Mubadala Investment Company has offloaded a A$363 million ($273 million) share in Oil Search, which has major stakes in Papua New Guinea’s emerging liquefied natural gas (LNG) sector.
Twinza is suspending the development of its Pasca A offshore project in Papua New Guinea (PNG) after the government reneged on a previous agreement and increased its demands.
Santos said today that its largest shareholder had sold about one third of its stake worth A$785 million ($603.7 million) in the Australian gas producer. This ends a strategic relationship with ENN Group, which is one of the largest gas distributors in China.
Oil Search has named Peter Fredricson as chief financial officer effective 23 March 2021 as the Australian-listed company pushes growth projects in Papua New Guinea and Alsaka.
New upstream oil and gas projects worth about $15 billion will be sanctioned in Australasia this year, according to Rystad Energy’s forecast, marking a huge boost compared to the $1.2 billion committed to new projects in 2020.
The delayed Total-led liquefied natural gas (LNG) export development in Papua New Guinea (PNG) has signed a key fiscal stability agreement with the government. This marks a significant step in de-risking the proposed 5.33 million tonne per year Papua LNG scheme.
Despite a recently announced planned capital raising, Australian-listed Oil Search, which has major stakes in Papua New Guinea’s emerging LNG sector, is a prime takeover target, as mergers become more likely in a low oil price world.
ExxonMobil’s PNG LNG expansion project risks being delayed several years after the government of Papua New Guinea rejected the US major’s proposed terms for the P’nyang field development.
Santos said it has signed an agreement to farm-in for a 20% interest in a licence in Papua New Guinea.
Total and Australia's Oil Search have agreed exclusive Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to acquire InterOil in a $2.2billion deal .
Well testing will now be carried out at Raptor-1 to determine the hydrocarbon type, column, flow rate and reservoir quality. Raptor-1 is 12km west of Interoil’s Elk-Antelope gas field.