Chevron, Exxon in dispute over Guyana oil

Business squabble: A man passes Exxon Mobil’s headquarters in Georgetown, Guyana. The oil major says it has a claim to the Starbroek block off Guyana, that Chevron is seeking to acquire. — Reuters

HOUSTON: Exxon Mobil Corp says it may preempt Chevron Corp’s acquisition of a 30% stake in a giant Guyana oil block, the centrepiece of its deal for Hess Corp.

The companies are in talks on Exxon’s claim it has a right to first refusal of any sale of the Stabroek block, a giant field off the coast of Guyana that contains at least 11 billion barrels of oil.