RPT-StatoilHydro to sell assets in Gulf of Mexico

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OSLO Dec 31 (Reuters) - Norwegian energy group StatoilHydro (STL.OL) will sell assets in the shallow water of the Gulf of Mexico to U.S. company Mariner Energy, Inc ME.N for $243 million, StatoilHydro said at the weekend.

The sale of its former Spinnaker assets will be accomplished by selling its wholly owned subsidiary Hydro Gulf of Mexico, LLC, it said.

The sale comprises production of approximately 9,600 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd), with proven reserves of 8.3 million barrels oil equivalent, StatoilHydro said.

"StatoilHydro wishes to focus its strategy, operations, people and capital in the deepwater acreage where our technology and skills as the world's largest operator of deepwater fields are most advantageous to us," Oivind Reinersten, head of StatoilHydro's North American region, said in a statement.

"We will keep all deepwater leases that were associated with Spinnaker and maintain our position as the fourth-largest leaseholder in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico," he added.

StatoilHydro said the book value of the sold assets indicates that the sale will generate a minor accounting loss.

The sale is expected to be closed in the first quarter of 2008, the company said.

(Reporting by Aasa Christine Stoltz)