Norway's Statoil sells stake in Shah Deniz project in Azerbaijan to Petronas for $2.25 billion

Norwegian energy company Statoil says it has sold its stake in the Shah Deniz gas project in Azerbaijan to Malaysian company Petronas for $2.25 billion.

Statoil says the sale "optimizes our portfolio and strengthens our financial flexibility."

It says in a statement Monday that the deal includes its 15.5 percent interest in the Shah Deniz production sharing agreement, 15.5 percent share in the South Caucasus Pipeline Company, 15.5 percent share in the SCPC holding company, and a 12.4 percent share in the Azerbaijan Gas Supply Company.

It says second-quarter production from the Shah Deniz field was 38,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day during this year's second quarter.

The deal, subject to authorities' approval, is expected to close in 2015.