據離岸工程網站9月9日消息 石油和天然氣公司科斯莫能源周三表示，已同意以至多2億美元的價格向殼牌出售部分前沿勘探資產權益。

殼牌將收購科斯莫在圣多美和普林西比、蘇里南、納米比亞和南非近海區塊的權益，這些區塊將先期支付1億美元。該交易還包括在資產組合中鉆取的前四口探井每次商業發現時應支付的或有付款5000萬美元，總額上限為1億美元。四口井中的三口目前計劃在2021年開采。

科斯莫表示，公司將動用至多三分之一的初始收益，在墨西哥灣測試兩個以基礎設施為主導的高質量勘探前景，每一個都提供了一個低成本、低碳開發計劃的樞紐規模潛力。

該公司表示，預計將使用剩余收益減少其信貸融通項下的未償借款。

科斯莫能源董事長兼首席執行官Andrew G.Inglis表示：“通過此次交易，我們將繼續將我們的勘探組合集中在已探明的盆地上，這些盆地具有較高、較短的回報率和巨大的資源潛力。這些收益使科斯莫加快了高品位勘探機會，同時加強了資產負債表，使科斯莫能夠創造額外的股東價值。與殼牌簽訂的協議中的或有付款確保了我們在無需進一步投資的情況下，保留了前沿勘探的優勢。”

交易預計于2020年第四季度完成，生效日期為2020年9月1日，并受包括政府批準在內的慣例條件的約束。

根據協議，殼牌將收購科斯莫在南比亞近海PEL0039區塊45%的權益、南非NCUD區塊45%的權益、蘇里南42區塊33.33%的權益。在圣多美和普林西比，殼牌將收購科斯莫在以下區塊的股份：6號區塊（25%）、11號區塊（35%）、10和13號區塊（35%）。

吳恒磊 編譯自 離岸工程

原文如下：

Shell Buys Kosmos' Frontier Exploration Assets for Up to $200M

Oil and gas company Kosmos Energy said Wednesday it had agreed to sell some of its frontier exploration asset interests to Shell for up to $200 million

Shell will acquire Kosmos’ interest in blocks offshore S?o Tomé & Príncipe, Suriname, Namibia, and South Africa for which will pay $100 million upfront. The deal also includes contingent payments of $50 million payable upon each commercial discovery from the first four exploration wells drilled across the asset portfolio, capped at $100 million in aggregate. Three of the four wells are currently planned for 2021.

Kosmos said it would use up to one-third of the initial proceeds to test two high-quality infrastructure-led exploration prospects in the Gulf of Mexico, each offering hub scale potential with a low-cost, lower-carbon development scheme.

The company said it expected to use the remainder of the proceeds to reduce borrowings outstanding under its credit facilities.

Andrew G. Inglis, Kosmos Energy’s chairman and chief executive officer said: “With this transaction, we are continuing to focus our exploration portfolio on proven basins that offer superior returns with shorter payback and significant resource potential. The proceeds enable Kosmos to accelerate high graded exploration opportunities while strengthening the balance sheet, positioning Kosmos to create additional shareholder value. The contingent payments locked into the agreement with Shell ensure we retain upside from frontier exploration with no further investment.”

Closing of the transaction is expected in the fourth quarter of 2020 with an effective date of September 1, 2020, and is subject to customary conditions including government approvals.

Under the agreement Shell will acquire Kosmos' 45% interest in PEL0039 block offshore Nambia; 45% interest in Block NCUD in South Africa; 33,33% in Block 42 in Suriname. In S?o Tomé & Príncipe Shell will acquire Kosmos' shares in the following blocks: Block 6 / 25%; Block 11 / 35%; Blocks 10 & 13 / 35%.