British energy provider SSE has kicked off the process to sell its 140 million cubic feet per day portfolio of North Sea gas fields in a single package, a sale document seen by Reuters showed.
SSE said in May it was looking to sell its gas production assets. A banking source estimated the value of the portfolio at around $1 billion.
The package includes a 20% stake in the Total-operated Greater Laggan Area in the West of Shetlands, including the Shetland Gas Plant, and the Bacton Catchment Area in the Southern North Sea, the document sent to potential buyers showed.
It includes around 30 million barrels of oil equivalent (boe) in reserves and the potential for further reserves growth in the Glendronach prospect in the Greater Laggan Area.
Total estimates it has found around 1 trillion cubic feet of recoverable resources in the area.
The document lists Bank of America Merrill Lynch as advisor on the sale.
"SSE has stated that gas production is a non-core activity that is ultimately inconsistent with its focus on decarbonization, and it is taking active steps to dispose of investments in this activity," SSE said.
"However, SSE will only complete a sale of its equity interests when it is in the interests of shareholders and other stakeholders to do so."
(Reporting by Shadia Nasralla; Additional reporting by Clara Denina; Editing by Jan Harvey)