Equinor has signed an agreement with EQT Corporation to acquire additional non-operated interest in the Northern Marcellus formation in the US. Equinor will pay USD 1.25 billion to EQT in the transaction.
Under the agreement, Equinor is acquiring 100% of EQT’s remaining working interest in Northern Marcellus gas units primarily operated by Expand Energy.
The transaction will increase cashflow from the international portfolio by adding natural gas volumes with low carbon intensity emissions from production.
Subject to closing, the acquisition will have economic effect from 31 December 2024. The acquisition covers the same acreage included in the swap agreement with EQT announced earlier this year.
With this transaction, Equinor is increasing its average working interest in the Northern Marcellus asset from 25.7% to 40.7%. The transaction adds approximately 80,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d) to Equinor’s US production in the near-term.
“We continue to high-grade Equinor’s international portfolio in line with our strategy, improving robustness by adding more natural gas volumes in a core market where we produce with low break-evens and low intensity upstream emissions. We are well positioned in this premium acreage to capitalize on positive long-term demand indicators in the US gas market,” says Philippe Mathieu, executive vice president for Exploration and Production International at Equinor.
Equinor’s E&P USA business has delivered over USD 5.5 billion in adjusted operating income after tax since the start of 2021.
“The US is a core country for Equinor, where we have shaped a robust onshore and offshore oil and gas portfolio, alongside our activities in offshore wind, battery storage, and low-carbon value chains,” says Mathieu.
EQT Corporation is one of the largest producers of natural gas in the US with operations in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio.
Closing of the transaction will, among other things, be dependent on approval by relevant authorities.
About Equinor
Equinor (OSE:EQNR, NYSE:EQNR), is an international energy company with a proud history. Formerly Statoil, we are 20,000 committed colleagues developing oil, gas, wind and solar energy in more than 30 countries worldwide. We’re the largest operator in Norway, among the world’s largest offshore operators, and a growing force in renewables. Driven by our Nordic urge to explore beyond the horizon, and our dedication to safety, equality and sustainability, we’re building a global business on our values and the energy needs of the future.
About EQT Corporation
EQT Corporation (NYSE: EQT) is a leading independent natural gas production company with operations focused in the Appalachian Basin. We are dedicated to responsibly developing our world-class asset base and being the operator of choice for our stakeholders. By leveraging a culture that prioritizes operational efficiency, technology and sustainability, we seek to continuously improve the way we produce environmentally responsible, reliable and low-cost energy. We have a longstanding commitment to the safety of our employees, contractors, and communities, and to the reduction of our overall environmental footprint. Our values are evident in the way we operate and in how we interact each day – trust, teamwork, heart, and evolution are at the center of all we do.