Maersk Oil enters into exploration agreement with ExxonMobil

Maersk Oil enters into exploration agreement with ExxonMobil Maersk Oil Gulf of Mexico Two LLC, a subsidiary of Maersk Oil America Inc., owned by Maersk Inc., said Thursday it has signed a joint venture agreement with Exxon Mobil Corp. under which Maersk Oil has acquired a 50 percent share in ExxonMobil's interests in 37 leases in the central Gulf of Mexico.
   The leases cover some 213,000 acres, in water depths in the range of 4,500 to 7,900 feet (1,400-2,400 meters). The joint venture agreement does not change the operatorship in any of the affected leases.
   The assignment of interests to Houston-based Maersk Oil Gulf of Mexico is subject to approval by the U.S. Department of Interior's Minerals Management Service.