Anadarko and FEX get NPR-A partners

Anadarko Petroleum and FEX have both brought on old friends on federal acreage the companies separately picked up in a September 2008 lease sale in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, according to U.S. Bureau of Land Management title information.

Anadarko assigned a one-sixth working interest, or 16.66 percent, in 13 leases in the northeast and northwest planning areas of the reserve to BG Alaska E&P. Anadarko retained a 33.34 percent interest. Petro-Canada holds the remaining 50 percent interest.

For several years, the three companies have been partnering on a broad and multiyear search for natural gas in the foothills of the Brooks Range. The companies hold equal working interest on other shared acreage, which covers state, federal and Native land.

The transfer covers all the acreage Anadarko and Petro-Canada acquired in the lease sale.

FEX partners with Petro-Canada

FEX retained the remaining 60 percent interest in the leases.

FEX and Petro-Canada already partner on dozens of other leases across NPR-A.

Petro-Canada, a major Alaska leaseholder, recently announced a proposed merger with Canadian company Suncor Energy, a deal subject to shareholder and regulatory approval.

The 23 leases with new ownership assignments extend northwest from Umiat.

The assignments became effective April 1.

BLM is an arm of the U.S. Department of the Interior.

—Eric Lidji