ExxonMobil Acquires Operatorship of Papua LNG Project from TotalEnergies
Global oil major's strategic move into large-scale LNG project shifts corporate capital focus.
ExxonMobil Corp. has agreed to acquire the operatorship of the Papua LNG project from TotalEnergies, according to a report from Rigzone. The transfer, announced on September 7, 2026, also involves a farm-down by French majority owner TotalEnergies.
TotalEnergies stated the transaction is intended to help advance the project toward a final investment decision, Rigzone reported. The Papua LNG project is a major liquefied natural gas development located in Papua New Guinea.
For Bakken formation operators and stakeholders in North Dakota, this corporate maneuvering highlights the ongoing global competition for capital within integrated oil majors. As companies like ExxonMobil commit resources and operational expertise to large-scale, long-term international projects like Papua LNG, capital allocation for domestic shale basins can be affected.
Major operators with significant Bakken assets, including ExxonMobil subsidiary XTO Energy, continually balance their investment portfolios between short-cycle shale production and large-scale international developments. Strategic moves into multi-billion dollar LNG projects signal where corporate leadership sees future growth, potentially influencing the pace of development in regions like the Williston Basin.
The Bakken remains a core, producing asset for many large operators, providing crucial cash flow. However, news of major capital commitments elsewhere underscores the importance of cost efficiency and competitive returns for North Dakota's oil fields to maintain their share of corporate investment.
Source
Rigzone
