Reuters reported on Monday that Norway’s Equinor ASA (NYSE: EQNR)is considering buying oilfields in the British North Sea from China’s CNOOC Ltd (OTCPK: CEOHF), including a significant stake in the huge Buzzard oilfield in a deal valued at between 20 billion and 30 billion Norwegian crowns ($1.9 billion-$2.8 billion). The deal would rank among the largest in years on the U.K. continental shelf. According to the Norwegian newspaper DN, the deal might be finalized as early as the end of the current year. The assets were originally obtained in 2013 from Canadian oil producer Nexen . Equinor’s assets also come with so-called tax losses, meaning the owner of the fields can offset past losses against future tax bills “As a matter of principle, we never comment on rumors and speculation,” an Equinor spokesperson told Reuters when quizzed about the deal. CNOOC has also declined to comment. In March, Reuters, […]