据11月30日Offshore Technology报道，美国石油巨头埃克森美孚公司已经放弃出售其在澳大利亚巴斯海峡数十亿美元的油气资产的计划。
据《澳大利亚金融评论报》(Australian Financial Review, AFR)报道，这一最新举措距离销售顾问摩根大通(JPMorgan)为巴斯海峡石油和天然气设定的“指示性投标截止日期”仅6周。
该项目包括开发位于澳大利亚近海巴斯海峡T/RL1生产许可证地区的Yolla油田。该油田位于维多利亚南部离岸147公里处，水深80米。
AFR援引埃克森美孚当地子公司Esso发言人的话称:“在完成广泛的市场评估后，埃克森美孚决定保留其在澳大利亚运营的Gippsland盆地的资产。我们认为，作为投资组合的一部分，Gippsland 盆地和Kipper子公司都很有价值，我们将继续运营，而不是剥离出售。”
AFR表示，出售过程中，潜在买家没有发出有吸引力的报价。
2018年12月，埃克森美孚及其合资伙伴必和必拓决定继续开发位于维多利亚近海巴斯海峡的West Barracouta气田。Esso澳大利亚公司是Gippsland 盆地合资公司的运营者，拥有50%的权益。必和必拓石油公司(巴斯海峡)持有合资企业剩余50%的股份。
据报道，今年8月，必和必拓计划出售巴斯海峡油气股份，以专注于价值更高的石油资产。
王佳晶 摘译自 Offshore Technology
原文如下：
ExxonMobil abandons sale of Australia’s Bass Strait oil and gas assets
American oil major ExxonMobil has reportedly abandoned plans of the multibillion-dollar sale of its oil and gas assets in Australia's Bass Strait.
The latest move comes just six weeks after the ‘deadline for indicative bids’ for the Bass Strait oil and gas set by sales adviser JPMorgan, reported the Australian Financial Review (AFR).
The BassGas project includes the development of the Yolla field located in production license T/RL1 of the Bass Strait, offshore of Australia. The field lies in a water depth of 80m, about 147km offshore of southern Victoria.
AFR quoted ExxonMobil local affiliate Esso Australia spokesman as stating: “After completing an extensive market evaluation, ExxonMobil has decided to retain its operated Gippsland Basin producing assets in Australia.
“We believe Gippsland Basin and the Kipper unit are more valuable as part of our portfolio and we will continue to operate rather than divest.”
According to AFR, the sale process did not yield attractive offers from potential buyers.
In December 2018, ExxonMobil and its joint venture partner BHP decided to proceed with the development of the West Barracouta gas field in Bass Strait, offshore Victoria. Esso Australia is the operator of the Gippsland Basin JV, in which it owns a 50% interest. BHP Billiton Petroleum (Bass Strait) holds the remaining 50% interest in the JV.
In August, BHP reportedly planned to sell Bass Strait oil and gas stake to focus on higher value petroleum assets.