• ONGC Videsh Ltd., India, has acquired oil interests in Sudan from Talisman Energy Inc., Calgary, for US$771 million. The assets include a 25% stake in the Greater Nile Oil production and pipeline project. Talisman no longer has interests in Sudan. • CNOOC plans to buy an 8.3% stake in a Kazakhstan project for $615 million in cash from BG. The project includes the Kashagan Field, which covers about 5,600 square kilometers with estimated recoverable reserves of up to 13 billion BOE. The project is operated by Italy's ENI Agip. • Perenco plans to acquire interests in two Venezuelan production assets from BP for US$160 million in cash. The assets include a 60% stake in the Boqueron Field in eastern Venezuela and 100% interest in the DZO (Desarrollo Zulia Occidental) Field. Production averaged 26,100 bbl. of oil a day in 2002. BP is operator of both fields. • Canadian Natural Resources Ltd., Calgary, plans to acquire British North Sea properties from Murphy Oil Corp., El Dorado, Ark., (NYSE: MUR) for US$36 million. The assets include stakes ranging from 2% to 14% in properties such as the Ninian Field, a related pipeline, a shipping terminal in the Shetland Islands, the Columba fields and adjacent exploration acreage. Combined net daily production from these properties in the fourth quarter was more than 4,000 BOE a day. • Pretium Industries, Calgary, plans to acquire Vinccler Oil and Gas Corp. for C$28 million. Vinccler's assets are primarily in Venezuela. Through its subsidiary, Vinccler Oil and Gas CA, Vinccler is the operator and 100% owner of an operating service agreement, which covers the East Falcon unit in northwestern Venezuela. • Tullow Oil Plc, London, subsidiary Tullow Oil U.K. Ltd. plans to swap a 25% interest in its Southern Gas Basin Block 53/4a for Shell's entire 24.805% interest in Inner Moray Firth Block 20/7a (License P272). Tullow will retain a 50% equity holding and operatorship in Block 53/4a, which contains the undeveloped Wissey gas discovery. Shell's interest in 20/7a is held by its subsidiary Enterprise Oil U.K. Ltd. -Crystal Cleveland