ExxonMobil, CNOOC merge Guyana arbitration claims against Chevron over Hess acquisition

(Bloomberg) – Exxon Mobil Corp. and Cnooc Ltd. merged arbitration claims against Chevron Corp.’s proposed takeover of Hess Corp. that would allow the U.S. oil supermajor to enter the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana.

The unified arbitration was approved after a March 26 application, according to a Hess letter to stockholders included in a Chevron regulatory filing on Thursday. Exxon and Beijing-based Cnooc, which own 45% and 25% of Stabroek, respectively, argue they have a right of first refusal over Hess’s stake in the block.

“Chevron and Hess believe that ExxonMobil’s and CNOOC’s asserted claims are without merit,” according to the filing. Hess “intends to vigorously defend its position in the arbitration proceedings and expects the arbitration tribunal will confirm that the Stabroek ROFR does not apply to the merger.”

The dispute over a contract written more than a decade ago is unprecedented in the modern history of the oil and gas industry and threatens to upend Chevron’s $53 billion deal to buy Hess. In the filing, Hess noted that Exxon published a statement in October “indicating its support” for the deal before reversing course six months later.

Hess reiterated its confidence in winning the arbitration case “based on the express terms of the Stabroek” contract, it said. Exxon has accused Chevron and Hess of attempting to “circumvent” the contract, which is private.

“We understand the intent of this language of the whole contract because we wrote it,” Exxon Senior Vice President Neil Chapman said on March 6.