Spain’s Repsol has pulled out of a planned joint venture to develop two Arctic oil blocks with Russia’s Gazprom Neft and Royal Dutch Shell, a spokesman at Repsol said May 22.
Gazprom Neft, the oil arm of Russian gas giant Gazprom, Repsol and Shell signed a memorandum of understanding last June on establishing a joint venture to develop the Leskinsky and Pukhutsyayakhsky blocks on the Gydan Peninsula in northern Siberia.
A deal on the venture, in which Gazprom Neft would hold a 50% stake and Repsol and Shell each own 25%, was expected to close this year.
“It’s an option we had on a well we are choosing not to exercise,” Repsol’s spokesman said.
A source at Gazprom Neft said the Russian company will continue to cooperate with Shell on the assets.
“Repsol has informed Gazprom Neft that at the moment, it does not consider a possibility of participation in the project,” the source said.
Gazprom Neft declined to comment.
Recommended Reading
E&P Highlights: Feb. 3, 2025
2025-02-03 - Here’s a roundup of the latest E&P headlines, from a forecast of rising global land rig activity to new contracts.
US Drillers Cut Oil, Gas Rigs for First Time in Six Weeks
2025-01-10 - The oil and gas rig count fell by five to 584 in the week to Jan. 10, the lowest since November.
US Drillers Add Oil, Gas Rigs for First Time in Eight Weeks
2025-01-31 - For January, total oil and gas rigs fell by seven, the most in a month since June, with both oil and gas rigs down by four in January.
US Oil and Gas Rig Count Rises to Highest Since June, Says Baker Hughes
2025-02-21 - Despite this week's rig increase, Baker Hughes said the total count was still down 34, or 5% below this time last year.
Baker Hughes: US Drillers Add Oil, Gas Rigs for Third Week in a Row
2025-02-14 - U.S. energy firms added oil and natural gas rigs for a third week in a row for the first time since December 2023.