By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Feb. 17 -- Kosmos Energy LLC, Dallas, and Pioneer Natural Resources Co., Irving, Tex., agreed to jointly explore the west coast of Africa from Morocco through Angola.
Kosmos is led by James C. Musselman, formerly CEO of Triton Energy Ltd. Amerada Hess Corp. acquired Triton Energy for $3.2 billion in 2001 (OGJ Online, July 10, 2001).
Musselman said Kosmos has "extensive technical and operational expertise in West Africa, most notably in the discovery and development of Ceiba field in Equatorial Guinea."
Pioneer Chairman and CEO Scott Sheffield said he looks forward to working with the Kosmos executive team to build Pioneer's success off Gabon.
"Their proven West Africa track record combined with our deepwater development expertise is a strong combination to deliver success in this prospective hydrocarbon province," Sheffield said.
Kosmos said it has "provisional commitments of up to $300 million" from company management, Warburg Pincus and Blackstone Capital Partners, an affiliate of Blackstone Group, to pursue exploration and development of oil and natural gas in West Africa.