OREANDA-NEWS. October 09, 2012. Marathon Oil Corporation (NYSE: MRO) announced today that its subsidiary Marathon Ethiopia Limited B.V. has entered into a sale and purchase agreement with Agriterra Limited to acquire their 20 percent working interest in the South Omo concession in Ethiopia with an effective date of Aug. 17, 2012. The companies expect to close the transaction, subject to completion of the necessary Ethiopian government approvals, before the end of the year, reported the press-centre of Marathon Oil.

Tullow Oil is the operator of the South Omo concession with a 50 percent working interest, and Africa Oil holds the remaining 30 percent working interest.  The concession has an area of approximately 7.2 million gross acres (29,465 gross square kilometers). An exploration well is anticipated to spud in South Omo in the fourth quarter of 2012.

In consideration for the assignment of these interests, Marathon Oil will pay Agriterra USD40 million, before closing adjustments, with an additional payment of USD10 million due upon Marathon Oil's participation in a declaration of a commercial discovery.

"This acquisition is a strong addition to Marathon Oil's position in the Tertiary rift trend onshore East Africa and is on trend with the recent Ngamia-1 discovery in Kenya," said Annell Bay, Marathon Oil vice president, Global Exploration. "We are excited to build on our partnership with Tullow and Africa Oil."

Marathon Oil Corporation is an independent international energy company. Based in Houston, Texas, Marathon Oil had net proved reserves at the end of 2011 of 1.8 billion barrels of oil equivalent in North America, Europe and Africa. For more information, please visit the Company's website at http://www.marathonoil.com.