Nexen now Cnooc International in ‘one team, one brand’

Oil and gas operator Nexen has officially changed its name to Cnooc International.

The Canadian firm was taken over by China National Offshore Oil Corporation (Cnooc) in February 2013.

The £9.4 billion deal was at the time the largest foreign business takeover by China, and gave Cnooc new production in global hubs such as the North Sea, Canada and Gulf of Mexico.

Nexen operates Buzzard, the UK’s largest-producing field, while the deal also handed Cnooc ownership of the £2 billion Golden Eagle development. The company yesterday changed the branding on its online platforms to “Cnooc International”.

The firm has offices at the Prime Four business park in Kingswells, Aberdeen, and, as of the end of 2017, employed almost 600 people in the UK.

Along with Golden Eagle and Buzzard, the company operates the Scott platform in the North Sea, as well as the Ettrick and Blackbird fields which are being decommissioned.

A spokesman for Cnooc International said: “On January 14 2019 Nexen Energy ULC integrated into Cnooc International, becoming one team under one brand.

“This demonstrates Cnooc Limited’s continued commitment to growing its international portfolio.

“At Cnooc International, we remain committed to delivering safe, reliable operations and working collaboratively with stakeholders in the local communities where we operate.”