Shell to grow working interest in the Ursa platform in Gulf of America

merger, acquisition and takeover February 22, 2025

HOUSTON, Feb. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Shell Offshore Inc. and Shell Pipeline Company (SPLC), subsidiaries of Shell plc (Shell), have signed an agreement to increase their stake in the Ursa platform in the Gulf of America. This will increase Shell's working interest (WI) in its operated Ursa platform, pipeline, and associated fields from 45.3884% to a maximum of 61.35%, following an agreement to acquire 15.96% WI from ConocoPhillips Company (COP).

"This targeted investment is the latest example of how we are unlocking more value from our existing advantaged Upstream assets and infrastructure," said Zoë Yujnovich, Shell's Integrated Gas & Upstream Director. "The acquisition expands our ownership in an established long-producing asset that generates robust free cash flow, while also providing more options for growth."

The Gulf of America production has among the lowest greenhouse gas intensity in the world. Increasing our working interest in Ursa demonstrates our continued focus on providing secure supplies of domestic energy and pursuing the highest margin and most energy-efficient Upstream investments.

This deal is subject to regulatory clearance, preferential rights election and closing conditions. The deal is expected to be completed by end Q2 2025.

Notes to editors

  • Shell is the operator of Ursa Tension-Leg Platform (TLP) and currently holds a 45.3884% working interest (WI) ownership in the asset with BP Exploration & Production Inc. (22.6916% WI), ECP GOM III, LLC (15.96%) and ConocoPhillips Company (COP) (15.96% WI).

The transaction also includes:

    • COP's 15.96% membership interest in the Shell-operated Ursa Oil Pipeline Company LLC, which will be held by Shell Pipeline Company.
    • COP's 1% WI in the Europa prospect (also operated by Shell).
    • COP's 3.5% Overriding Royalty Interest (ORRI) in Ursa. This royalty interest was acquired by COP through the Marathon Oil Corporation merger, which was completed in November 2024.
  • Reference to an increase in WI to a maximum of 61.35% is subject to preferential rights election by other WI partners.
  • The Ursa TLP, which began production in 1999, is located approximately 130 miles (209 kilometres) southeast of New Orleans within the Mars Basin, one of the most prolific hydrocarbon basins in the world.
  • The Ursa/Princess field is well established, having produced more than 800 million barrels of oil equivalent total gross over ~25 years, providing Shell with reliable production and growth opportunities.
  • Shell US is the leading deep-water operator and one of the largest leaseholders in the Gulf of America (GoA), focused on opportunities close to our existing assets in the most prolific corridors.
  • The reference to our GoA production having among the lowest greenhouse gas intensity in the world is a comparison among other members of the International Association of Oil & Gas Producers.

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Forward-looking Statements

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Shell's Net Carbon Intensity

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Shell's net-zero emissions target

Shell's operating plan, outlook and budgets are forecasted for a ten-year period and are updated every year. They reflect the current economic environment and what we can reasonably expect to see over the next ten years. Accordingly, they reflect our Scope 1, Scope 2 and NCI targets over the next ten years. However, Shell's operating plans cannot reflect our 2050 net-zero emissions target, as this target is currently outside our planning period. In the future, as society moves towards net-zero emissions, we expect Shell's operating plans to reflect this movement. However, if society is not net zero in 2050, as of today, there would be significant risk that Shell may not meet this target.

Forward-looking non-GAAP measures

This release may contain certain forward-looking non-GAAP measures such as cash capital expenditure and divestments. We are unable to provide a reconciliation of these forward-looking non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures because certain information needed to reconcile those non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures is dependent on future events some of which are outside the control of Shell, such as oil and gas prices, interest rates and exchange rates. Moreover, estimating such GAAP measures with the required precision necessary to provide a meaningful reconciliation is extremely difficult and could not be accomplished without unreasonable effort. Non-GAAP measures in respect of future periods which cannot be reconciled to the most comparable GAAP financial measure are calculated in a manner which is consistent with the accounting policies applied in Shell plc's consolidated financial statements.
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SOURCE Shell Offshore Inc.; Shell Pipeline Company

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