UKCS still attracting buyers
Healthy appetite remains despite an evolving oil and gas landscape
It is perhaps a little surprising, with Cop26 and Shell’s decision to put the West of Shetland (WoS) Cambo oil project on hold fresh in our memories, to consider that there remains strong appetite from a select group of buyers to acquire assets on the UK continental shelf (UKCS). Last year saw a flurry of transactional activity, with several large deals announced. Neo Energy, financed by Norwegian private equity (PE) firm Hitec Vision, was particularly active, acquiring assets from ExxonMobil, Japan’s JX Nippon and fellow PE-backed producer Zennor Petroleum. North Sea-focused independents Ithaca Energy, Enquest and Waldorf Production also picked up notable assets. The assumption of maintaine
Also in this section
10 March 2026
From Venezuela to Hormuz, the US—backed by the most powerful military force ever assembled—is redrawing not only oil and gas flows but also the global balance of energy power
10 March 2026
By shutting the Strait of Hormuz, Iran has cut exports of distillate-rich Middle Eastern crude, jet fuel and diesel, and is holding the energy market hostage
10 March 2026
Eni’s director for global gas and LNG portfolio, Cristian Signoretto, discusses how demand will respond to rising LNG supply, and how the company is expanding its own gas and LNG operations through disciplined, capital-efficient investments
9 March 2026
Petroleum Economist analysis sees increases in output from Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and Kazakhstan among others before region’s murky descent






