CNOOC sells its Gulf of Mexico oil assets to INEOS Energy

CNOOC Energy Holdings U.S.A. Inc., a subsidiary of CNOOC Limited, transfers its stakes in the Appomattox and Stampede oil fields to INEOS Energy, marking a strategic reorganization of its global portfolio.

Share:

Comprehensive energy news coverage, updated nonstop

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access • Archives included • Professional invoice

OTHER ACCESS OPTIONS

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

FREE ACCOUNT

3 articles offered per month

FREE

*Prices are excluding VAT, which may vary depending on your location or professional status

Since 2021: 35,000 articles • 150+ analyses per week

CNOOC Limited has announced the signing of a Stock Purchase Agreement (SPA) between its U.S.-based subsidiary, CNOOC Energy Holdings U.S.A. Inc., and a subsidiary of INEOS Energy. This transaction involves the sale of CNOOC’s interests in oil and gas projects located in the Gulf of Mexico. The assets include non-operating stakes in the Appomattox and Stampede fields, two major offshore production sites.

According to Mr. Liu Yongjie, Chairman of CNOOC International Ltd., this sale is part of a strategic effort to optimize the company’s global asset portfolio. The transaction reflects the company’s priorities to align its investments with market trends and long-term profitability goals.

A Strategic Repositioning for CNOOC

CNOOC Limited, a global player in oil and gas exploration and production, is focusing on streamlining its assets. With this divestment, the company continues its optimization strategy, prioritizing projects with the best growth and return prospects.

The Appomattox and Stampede fields, while significant for U.S. energy production, were not deemed strategic assets for CNOOC’s future. This repositioning aligns with a broader industry trend, where companies adjust their portfolios to meet market changes and energy transition requirements.

Partnership with INEOS Energy

INEOS Energy, a subsidiary of the British conglomerate INEOS, is pursuing an expansion strategy in the oil and gas sector by acquiring key assets worldwide. This transaction will allow INEOS to expand its presence in North America while strengthening its portfolio of offshore energy assets.

The transfer process will be overseen by both companies to ensure a smooth transition. The SPA will take effect once regulatory approvals are obtained and agreement terms are satisfied.

Zenith Energy claims Tunisian authorities carried out the unauthorised sale of stored crude oil, escalating a longstanding commercial dispute over its Robbana and El Bibane concessions.
TotalEnergies restructures its stake in offshore licences PPL 2000 and PPL 2001 by bringing in Chevron at 40%, while retaining operatorship, as part of a broader refocus of its deepwater portfolio in Nigeria.
Aker Solutions has signed a six-year frame agreement with ConocoPhillips for maintenance and modification services on the Eldfisk and Ekofisk offshore fields, with an option to extend for another six years.
Iranian authorities intercepted a vessel carrying 350,000 litres of fuel in the Persian Gulf, tightening control over strategic maritime routes in the Strait of Hormuz.
North Atlantic France finalizes the acquisition of Esso S.A.F. at the agreed per-share price and formalizes the new name, North Atlantic Energies, marking a key step in the reorganization of its operations in France.
Greek shipowner Imperial Petroleum has secured $60mn via a private placement with institutional investors to strengthen liquidity for general corporate purposes.
Ecopetrol plans between $5.57bn and $6.84bn in investments for 2026, aiming to maintain production, optimise infrastructure and ensure profitability despite a moderate crude oil market.
Faced with oversupply risks and Russian sanctions, OPEC+ stabilises volumes while preparing a structural redistribution of quotas by 2027, intensifying tensions between producers with unequal capacities.
The United Kingdom is replacing its exceptional tax with a permanent price mechanism, maintaining one of the world’s highest fiscal pressures and reshaping the North Sea’s investment attractiveness for oil and gas operators.
Pakistan confirms its exit from domestic fuel oil with over 1.4 Mt exported in 2025, transforming its refineries into export platforms as Asia faces a structural surplus of high- and low-sulphur fuel oil.
Turkish company Aksa Enerji has signed a 20-year contract with Sonabel for the commissioning of a thermal power plant in Ouagadougou, aiming to strengthen Burkina Faso’s energy supply by the end of 2026.
The Caspian Pipeline Consortium resumed loadings in Novorossiisk after a Ukrainian attack, but geopolitical tensions persist over Kazakh oil flows through this strategic Black Sea corridor.
Hungary increases oil product exports to Serbia to offset the imminent shutdown of the NIS refinery, threatened by US sanctions over its Russian majority ownership.
Faced with falling oil production, Pemex is expanding local refining through Olmeca, aiming to reduce fuel imports and optimise its industrial capacity under fiscal pressure.
Brazil’s state oil company will reduce its capital spending by 2%, hit by falling crude prices, marking a strategic shift under Lula’s presidency.
TotalEnergies has finalised the sale of its 12.5% stake in Nigeria’s offshore Bonga oilfield for $510mn, boosting Shell and Eni’s positions in the strategic deepwater production site.
Serbia is preparing a budget law amendment to enable the takeover of NIS, a refinery under US sanctions and owned by Russian groups, to avoid an imminent energy shutdown.
Nigeria’s Dangote refinery selects US-based Honeywell to supply technology that will double its crude processing capacity and expand its petrochemical output.
Iraq secures production by bypassing US sanctions through local payments, energy-for-energy swaps, and targeted suspension of financial flows to Lukoil to protect West Qurna-2 exports.
Restarting Olympic Pipeline’s 16-inch line does not restore full supply to Oregon and Seattle-Tacoma airport, both still exposed to logistical risks and regional price tensions.

All the latest energy news, all the time

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access - Archives included - Pro invoice

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

*Prices shown are exclusive of VAT, which may vary according to your location or professional status.

Since 2021: 30,000 articles - +150 analyses/week.