INEOS Upstream buys North Sea gas fields from DEA
ROLLE, Switzerland -- INEOS has agreed to acquire a strong portfolio of natural gas assets in the North Sea from a UK subsidiary of DEA Deutsche Erdoel AG, which is part of the LetterOne Group.
INEOS Upstream will acquire gas fields, including Breagh and Clipper South fields in the Southern North Sea, which are well positioned close to INEOS’ sites in the North East and Scotland. The annual production from these fields accounts for 8% of the UK’s annual gas production.
INEOS is a new entrant to the North Sea. However, the company has extensive experience in operating chemical plants of similar complexity to these offshore platforms.
As one of the world’s largest operators of chemical plants and a huge consumer of hydrocarbons, these assets should make a significant contribution to INEOS’s European energy and feedstock strategy. The company operates Scotland’s largest manufacturing complex at Grangemouth, which is the only refining/petrochemicals complex directly attached to the North Sea.
Shale
INEOS recently announced its intention to be the leading UK player in onshore gas development and, as part of the company's growing interest in energy production, is now evaluating additional opportunities in the offshore area.
As part of the company’s ongoing business planning, it has set up INEOS Upstream, a new oil and gas subsidiary of INEOS AG, and is working with a number of top class North Sea oil and gas professionals. Their first task has been to conduct a strategic review of the potential opportunities in the North Sea to see whether these are suitable to play a part in the development of the INEOS Upstream business.
“INEOS and its JV partners are huge consumers of natural gas, ethane, propane and condensates. North Sea oil and gas can make a significant contribution to providing these feedstocks as well as servicing our energy needs,” Rob Nevin, chairman of INEOS Upstream, said.
INEOS also owns a number of shale gas licenses in England and Scotland and is investing a further $1 billion in an ambitious project to bring U.S. shale gas to the UK and Norway.
“The acquisition of these North Sea gas fields is a great entry point for the INEOS Upstream business,” Jim Ratcliffe, chairman of INEOS, said. “They are high quality, low risk assets and they come with a highly experienced management team. Whilst no decisions have yet been made, we will continue to evaluate other opportunities in the North Sea”.
