Finance

China’s CNOOC sells US assets to Britain’s INEOS

Published by Uma Rajagopal

Posted on December 16, 2024

3 min read

· Last updated: January 28, 2026

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CNOOC's sale of Gulf of Mexico oil assets to INEOS - Global Banking & Finance Review
This image represents CNOOC's strategic sale of its U.S. oil and gas assets in the Gulf of Mexico to INEOS, highlighting the significant deal valued at nearly $2 billion.
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The Chinese oil and gas major said CNOOC Energy Holdings U.S.A. entered into a sales agreement with a subsidiary of INEOS relating to CNOOC’s upstream oil and gas assets in the U.S. part of the Gulf of Mexico. The deal primarily includes non-operator interests in oil and gas projects such as the Appomattox and Stampede […]

The Chinese oil and gas major said CNOOC Energy Holdings U.S.A. entered into a sales agreement with a subsidiary of INEOS relating to CNOOC’s upstream oil and gas assets in the U.S. part of the Gulf of Mexico.

The deal primarily includes non-operator interests in oil and gas projects such as the Appomattox and Stampede fields.

INEOS paid just under $2 billion for the assets, according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter who was not authorised to speak to media.

CNOOC said the transaction price was in line with market conditions but did not provide a figure, while INEOS declined to comment on the price.

The Chinese firm aims to optimise its global asset portfolio and will work with INEOS towards a smooth transition, CNOOC International Chairman Liu Yongjie said in the statement.

CNOOC has been sounding out potential buyers of its interests in U.S. oil and gas fields since 2022.

Reuters had reported earlier CNOOC was considering an exit from operations in Britain, Canada and the United States over concerns those assets could become subject to Western sanctions because China had not condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

(Reporting by Liz Lee in Beijing, Kane Wu in Hong Kong and Beijing newsroom; Writing by Engen Tham; Editing by Tom Hogue and Jamie Freed)

BEIJING/HONG KONG (Reuters) -China’s CNOOC Ltd has sold its U.S. subsidiary, together with its upstream oil and gas assets in the Gulf of Mexico, to British chemicals group INEOS, according to a CNOOC statement issued on Saturday.

The Chinese oil and gas major said CNOOC Energy Holdings U.S.A. entered into a sales agreement with a subsidiary of INEOS relating to CNOOC’s upstream oil and gas assets in the U.S. part of the Gulf of Mexico.

The deal primarily includes non-operator interests in oil and gas projects such as the Appomattox and Stampede fields.

INEOS paid just under $2 billion for the assets, according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter who was not authorised to speak to media.

CNOOC said the transaction price was in line with market conditions but did not provide a figure, while INEOS declined to comment on the price.

The Chinese firm aims to optimise its global asset portfolio and will work with INEOS towards a smooth transition, CNOOC International Chairman Liu Yongjie said in the statement.

CNOOC has been sounding out potential buyers of its interests in U.S. oil and gas fields since 2022.

Reuters had reported earlier CNOOC was considering an exit from operations in Britain, Canada and the United States over concerns those assets could become subject to Western sanctions because China had not condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

(Reporting by Liz Lee in Beijing, Kane Wu in Hong Kong and Beijing newsroom; Writing by Engen Tham; Editing by Tom Hogue and Jamie Freed)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CNOOC?
CNOOC, or China National Offshore Oil Corporation, is a major Chinese state-owned oil and gas company focused on the exploration and production of oil and natural gas.
What are upstream oil and gas assets?
Upstream oil and gas assets refer to the exploration and production segment of the industry, which involves searching for oil and gas reserves and extracting them from the ground.
What is market condition?
Market condition refers to the current state of the market, influenced by supply and demand, economic factors, and other variables that affect the pricing and availability of goods and services.
What is a subsidiary?
A subsidiary is a company that is controlled by another company, known as the parent company, which holds a majority of the subsidiary's shares.

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