Statoil Takes Over Another 59,000 Acres from Chesapeake, Pays $4,325 Per Acre

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Norwegian energy giant Statoil, which has a deal with Chesapeake Energy to develop some of Chesapeake’s acreage in the Marcellus Shale, has just transferred 59,000 acres from Chesapeake’s lease holdings to their own.

From a press statement issued by Statoil on Friday, March 26:

Statoil has signed an agreement with Chesapeake which will add approximately 59,000 net acres to Statoil’s current 600,000 net acre positions in the Marcellus Shale.

The cost to Statoil of the transaction is $253 million, with an average acreage cost of $4,325 per acre.

As part of Statoil’s joint venture agreement with Chesapeake in 2008, Statoil has the right to periodically acquire its share of leasehold that Chesapeake continues to acquire in the Marcellus Shale. Statoil has now exercised such acquisition rights on a series of Chesapeake Marcellus Shale acquisitions.

Statoil has seen very encouraging production performance since the entry into the Marcellus play in late 2008. This new acreage is expected to strengthen the position of Statoil and our cooperation with Chesapeake as the largest lease holders in one of the most prospective US shale gas plays.

This acquisition will enable the partnership to optimize its development activity and secure additional developments in the play. Statoil expects to continue to grow its Marcellus position together with Chesapeake.

Andy Winkle, VP for the Marcellus Asset, says “We were an early mover into the Marcellus and we will continue to build a long term position in what we expect will become a legacy asset and reach our goal of 50,000 boepd production by 2012.”

*Statoil Website (Mar 26) – Statoil strengthens US shale gas position

2 Comments

  1. I have proberty in Steuben and am curious when I will be approached for drilling. Any ideas?

  2. Hi Sandra. I’m not sure when or if they will come knocking, but I suspect they will! However, if I were you, I would not wait. First stop I would make is to check out local landowner groups and talk with them. You can find two of them in Steuben County by visiting the Directory of Landowners page: //marcellusdrilling.com/landowner-groups/.

    Also, I’m in the process of compiling a list of energy companies so you can reach out and initiate a conversation with them, if you so chose. Of course, there are not many leases being signed in New York right now because of the rule changes coming from the DEC–energy companies are willing to roll the dice right now (at least not many of them) in New York. Let’s hope that changes soon.

    Oh…and keep reading MDN! We’ll try to keep you up to date on all the latest.

    Jim