OREANDA-NEWS. December 27, 2012. BP announced that it has agreed the sale of its 34.3 per cent interest in the Yacheng gas field in the South China Sea to Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company (KUFPEC) for USD 308 million cash. Subject to regulatory, CNOOC and third party approvals, BP expects the deal to close in the second half of 2013.

“This sale is part of BP’s ongoing global portfolio optimization,” 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 USD 37.8 billion.

Commercial production at Yacheng started in 1996. BP operated the field until 1 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 780-kilometre pipeline. Additional natural gas, condensate and LPG are sold to customers on Hainan Island.

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

BP was awarded interests in the 42/05 and 43/11 deepwater blocks in the South China Sea in 2010 and 2012. These blocks are currently in the exploration phase.

Notes to editors

As one of the largest foreign investors in the Chinese energy sector, BP remains committed in its long-term growth in China, for both upstream and downstream areas.

Discovered in 1983, Yacheng 13-1 field is the largest offshore natural gas producing field in China. The field is located in about 90 metres water depth and is some 100 kilometres south of Hainan Island, in the South China Sea.