Statoil has agreed to sell a 40% interest in its oil sands project in Alberta, Canada (Kai Kos Dehseh) to PTT Exploration and Production (PTTEP) of Thailand.

Pursuant to the transaction, PTTEP has agreed to pay a total of USD 2,280 million for the 40% interest. Statoil will retain 60% ownership and shall act as the Managing Partner and operator of the project. Production volumes from the partnership will continue to be handled and marketed by Statoil Canada Ltd.

The effective date of the transaction is 1 January, 2011. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals in Canada and is expected to close in the first quarter 2011.

"This transaction underlines the quality of our Canadian resources and demonstrates our ability to create value as an oil sands operator," says Statoil's Chief Executive Officer, Helge Lund.

"We look forward to forming a strong partnership with PTTEP in the further development of our Canadian oil sands assets. The agreement to farm down from a 100% position to 60% follows other recent transactions designed to optimize the risk and strategic profile of our global portfolio," Lund continues.

As part of the development of Kai Kos Dehseh, earlier this year, Statoil presented a technology plan aimed at increasing value through enhanced production and reducing carbon emissions and energy use. Future development of the oil sands leases will proceed in a stepwise manner. Canadian oil sands represent one of the world's largest oil resources and will play an increasingly important role in the global energy mix.

"PTTEP fully shares our ambitions in relation to efficient and responsible operation and development of our Canadian oil sands assets. Our new partnership is committed to utilizing the best available technology in order to both minimize environmental impact and enhance value as we further develop Kai Kos Dehseh," says Lund.

Statoil originally entered Kai Kos Dehseh through the acquisition of North American Oil Sands Corporation in 2007. Since then, Statoil has invested to construct project facilities and related infrastructure at the Leismer project. The Leismer project is the first phase of the SAGD (Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage) full field development of Kai Kos Dehseh. The project initiated steam injection on 3 September 2010, one month ahead of schedule, and is positioned to move into production phase during the first quarter of 2011.

Tags: PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited, Statoil