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
4 December 2025
Time is running out for Lukoil and Rosneft to divest international assets that will be mostly rendered useless to them when the US sanctions deadline arrives in mid-December
3 December 2025
Aramco’s pursuit of $30b in US gas partnerships marks a strategic pivot. The US gains capital and certainty; Saudi Arabia gains access, flexibility and a new export future
2 December 2025
The interplay between OPEC+, China and the US will define oil markets throughout 2026
1 December 2025
The North African producer’s first bidding round in almost two decades is an important milestone but the recent extension suggests a degree of trepidation






