Exxon以及BHP欲出售澳大利亞資產

MELBOURNE (Bloomberg) —?Exxon, BHP?examining sale of joint Australia assets

Exxon Mobil?Corp. and BHP Billiton?Ltd. are studying plans to sell depleting energy assets?in Australia, including the largest oil field ever discovered in the nation.

The producers are considering marketing about 13 fields, licenses and associated infrastructure held in the Gippsland?Basin Joint Venture, Exxon’s Esso Australia unit said Wednesday in a statement. Oil and gas production?began from the venture in Australia’s Victoria-state in 1969, according to BHP.

“We are seeking to identify third parties with proven experience and strength to operate and capture the remaining potential in these licenses,” Esso?Australia, which operates the venture, said in its statement. BHP and Esso?Australia each hold a 50% share of the joint venture.

Melbourne-based BHP’s Bass Strait unit, which includes the mining giant’s stake in the Gippsland basin operation and a second joint venture, may be worth about $1 billion, Citigroup Inc. wrote in a May 27 note to clients. The unit’s liquids production?is in decline, analysts including Sydney-based Clarke Wilkins?wrote in the note.