Anadarko buys $2B worth of Gulf of Mexico assets

Anadarko Petroleum Corporation has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the deepwater Gulf of Mexico assets of Freeport-McMoRan Oil & Gas for $2 billion.

Anadarko said on Monday that the transaction, effective Aug. 1, 2016, is expected to close prior to year end.

“This immediately accretive, bolt-on transaction strengthens our industry-leading position in the Gulf of Mexico and is a catalyst for the company’s oil-growth objectives, with quality assets being acquired at an attractive price to create significant value,” said Anadarko Chairman, President and CEO Al Walker.

“We expect these acquired assets to generate substantial free cash flow, enhancing our ability to increase U.S. onshore activity in the Delaware and DJ basins. Our current plans are to add two rigs in each play later this year, and to increase activity further thereafter, with an expectation of more than doubling our production to at least 600,000 BOE per day collectively from these two basins over the next five years. This increased activity would drive a company-wide 10- to 12-percent compounded annual growth rate in oil volumes over the same time horizon in a $50 to $60 oil-price environment, while investing within cash flows.

“Additionally, the transaction expands Anadarko’s infrastructure in the Gulf, adds to our unmatched inventory of low-cost, subsea tieback opportunities, and bolsters optionality with new exploration prospects. The company’s Gulf of Mexico position, with the addition of these properties, will have net sales volumes of approximately 155,000 BOE per day, comprised of approximately 85-percent oil.”

Doubling Lucius ownership

In the statement on Monday, Anadarko said that its operated Lucius facility in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico continues to achieve ‘strong’ reservoir performance and facility productivity. As a result of this performance, the company is increasing the estimated ultimate recovery of the field to more than 400 million BOE from the previous 300-plus million BOE.

Additionally, gross oil sales volumes through the facility recently surpassed 100,000 barrels of oil per day (BOPD), the company said. Under the terms of the transaction, Anadarko will increase its working interest in Lucius to approximately 49 percent from its previous 23.8-percent ownership.

The acquisition and development cost of the acquired properties, excluding a total of approximately $300 million of materials inventory and seismic, is approximately $13.50 per BOE for the estimated proved reserves to be acquired. The assets are being acquired at an estimated EBITDAX multiple of 1.5 for the expected sales volumes over the coming 12 months, using the current futures strip price for oil and natural gas.

Upon closing, the transaction is expected to add approximately 80,000 BOE per day to Anadarko’s sales-volume guidance – more than 80 percent of which is comprised of oil. The company also is expected to increase its 2016 full-year capital guidance, not including the acquisition, to a range of $2.8 to $3.0 billion, primarily reflecting the increased activity in the Delaware and DJ basins.