Kuwait buys $308m China gas stake from BP

Oil giant BP has announced that it has agreed the sale of its 34.3 percent interest in the Yacheng gas field in the South China Sea to Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company (KUFPEC) for $308m.

Subject to regulatory approvals, BP said in a statement that it expects the deal to close in the second half of 2013.

“This sale is part of BP’s ongoing global portfolio optimisation,” said Chen Liming, president of BP China.

“BP remains committed to working with China to contribute its deep expertise and oil and gas supply options in this important emerging market.”

The sale takes BP’s total divestments announced since 2010 to $37.8bn.

Commercial production at Yacheng started in 1996. BP operated the field until January, 2004, when it handed operatorship to its major project partner CNOOC.

The field currently supplies natural gas for power generation to Castle Peak Company Limited in Hong Kong via a 780km pipeline.

Additional natural gas, condensate and LPG are sold to customers on Hainan Island.

Following completion, the Yacheng partnership will consist of CNOOC (51 percent), and Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company (49 percent).

BP was awarded interests in the deepwater blocks in the South China Sea in 2010 and 2012. These blocks are currently in the exploration phase.