CNOOC still interested in Repsol's YPF stake -source

SYDNEY, Aug 12 (Reuters) - China's CNOOC (0883.HK) is still interested in buying a stake in Repsol YPF's (REP.MC) Argentine unit, as it separately pushes to form a $15 billion joint venture with the Spanish oil major, a source said on Wednesday.

CNOOC had been making a joint $17 billion bid with fellow Chinese oil producer CNPC for the stake in the unit, YPF, but Bloomberg reported on Wednesday that Repsol was pursuing a sale to CNPC, parent of PetroChina (0857.HK)(PTR.N)(601857.SS), over CNOOC.

CNOOC would still like to be part of CNPC's bid for a small portion of YPF, and was also interested in a joint venture with Repsol involving upstream exploration and production assets in its global portfolio, said the source with direct knowledge of the situation.

"The hope is that both deals will be done simultaneously," said the source, who was not authorised to speak publicly about the process and so wished to remain anonymous. "The deal is now in the political stratosphere." (Reporting by Joseph Chaney; Editing by Chris Lewis)