Equinor completes acquisition with Shell in the US Gulf of Mexico

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has approved Equinor and Shell’s transaction announced in May 2019, whereby Equinor exercised its preferential right to acquire 22.45% interest in the Caesar Tonga oil field from Shell Offshore Inc for a total consideration of USD 965 million in cash. 

Equinor’s interest in the field is now 46%. Anadarko Petroleum Corporation is the operator with a 33.75% interest, and Chevron holds 20.25% interest. This transaction demonstrates Equinor’s ambition to grow and strengthens the portfolio in the US Gulf of Mexico, now producing a total of more than 130,000 boe/day.  

Equinor has a broad portfolio in the Gulf of Mexico, with active exploration activity, equity- and operated production. In addition, Equinor has extensive US onshore operations with a total equity production of nearly 300,000 boe/d, and recently won a bid to deliver offshore wind energy to New York.  

The Caesar Tonga field is located 180 miles (290 kilometres) south-southwest of New Orleans in the Green Canyon area and is one of the largest deepwater resources in the US Gulf of Mexico. Equinor’s current share of production from Caesar Tonga is 18,600 boepd (net to Equinor).