ExxonMobil is making a big move into the Russian Arctic. The U.S. oil company entered into a partnership with Russian oil giant Rosneft Tuesday, giving Exxon access to vast Arctic oil deposits and Rosneft a leg up in cutting-edge oil technology. Executives from the two companies inked the deal in a ceremony attended by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, according to an Exxon press release. Rosneft is 75% owned by the Russian government.
"This large-scale partnership represents a significant strategic step by both companies," Exxon Chief Executive Rex Tillerson said in a statement. "This agreement takes our relationship to a new level and will create substantial value for both companies." The deal comes just months after Exxon rival BP sought to strike a similar arrangement with Rosneft. That deal collapsed, with some speculating that BP didn't do enough to entice key Russian players.
For Exxon, the Arctic rights are a prized concession as major international oil companies like Chevron and Shell scramble to find new reserves in an era when increasing amounts of the world's remaining oil are controlled by national oil companies like Saudi Arabia's Aramco or Mexico's Pemex. The Arctic is thought to hold vast amounts of untapped oil.
The deal also gives Exxon access to Siberian "tight oil" plays, which would include oil from shale or other formations that require the use of hydraulic fracturing -- a controversial practice that uses water, sand and chemicals to free the entrapped oil or gas but has raised concerns over its effects on groundwater. Hydraulic fracturing, known as fracking, is widely used in shale formations in the U.S. and has recently unlocked huge new energy deposits, but it's relatively rare overseas.
MORE