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Michael (Mike) Arruda is a senior energy lawyer with over 40 years of experience representing clients in the global oil and gas industry.  His practice centers on the acquisition, operation and divestiture of oil and gas interests, as well as the decommissioning of assets in each of these phases.  His clients include energy companies based in Asia making outbound investments across Asia and overseas, as well as energy companies based overseas making inbound energy investments.  

Mike's experience with industry transactions includes competitive tenders and auctions, data acquisitions, joint studies, joint ventures, joint operations, farm-ins and farm-outs, unitizations, pipeline rights-of-way, crude oil sales, gas sales, gas balancing and storage, oil and gas processing, facility sharing, decommissioning security agreements (DSA's), carbon capture projects and various other transactional matters relating to the acquisition, operation, divestiture and decommissioning of oil and gas interests and assets.

Mike has represented clients in energy transactions around the world, including China, Hong Kong, Japan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Pakistan, Thailand, Liberia, Libya, Mauritania, Tunisia, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Canada, the United States, Mexico, Norway, and the United Kingdom.

Prior to going into private practice, Mike worked as Senior Counsel for BP and as Assistant Attorney General for the State of Alaska.

Full Bio

Credentials

J.D., Notre Dame Law School

B.S. Political Science, Arizona State University, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa

Alaska

California

Hong Kong Registered Foreign Lawyer

Japan Gaikokuho-Jimu-Bengoshi

Texas

Judicial Clerk, Justice Warren W. Matthews, Jr., Alaska

Asia Regional Director, Association of International Energy Negotiators (AIPN)

Co-Chair, CCUS Task Force, Association of International Energy Negotiators (AIEN)

Hong Kong Law Society

Japan – Gaikokuhojimubengoshi (Admitted 08/01/2023; Reg. G1240)

Recognized


Lawyer Of The Year In Energy And Natural Resources Law (International Firms In Beijing), Best Lawyers

Listed


Guide To The World's Leading Energy Attorneys, Euromoney

Recognized


The International Who's Who of Oil & Gas Lawyers, 2007-2020

Listed


Guide to World's Leading Energy Attorneys, 2010-2020

Energy & Natural Resources (International Firms)


China, Chambers & Partners Asia Pacific 2010-2020

Close

Recognition

Recognized


Lawyer Of The Year In Energy And Natural Resources Law (International Firms In Beijing), Best Lawyers

Listed


Guide To The World's Leading Energy Attorneys, Euromoney

Recognized


The International Who's Who of Oil & Gas Lawyers, 2007-2020

Listed


Guide to World's Leading Energy Attorneys, 2010-2020

Energy & Natural Resources (International Firms)


China, Chambers & Partners Asia Pacific 2010-2020

Matters

Share Acquisitions/Disposals

Acquisition by a consortium of international investors led by a subsidiary of Temasek Holdings (Private) Limited in the acquisition of a majority stake in U.S.-based oilfield service company Frac Tech Holdings, LLC.

Acquisition by PT Pertamina (Persero) of BP West Java Limited from subsidiary of BP plc.

Bid for acquisition of oil and gas joint stock company with subsoil use agreements in western Kazakhstan on behalf of an Asian national oil and gas company.

See more

Close

Matters

Share Acquisitions/Disposals

Acquisition by a consortium of international investors led by a subsidiary of Temasek Holdings (Private) Limited in the acquisition of a majority stake in U.S.-based oilfield service company Frac Tech Holdings, LLC.

Acquisition by PT Pertamina (Persero) of BP West Java Limited from subsidiary of BP plc.

Bid for acquisition of oil and gas joint stock company with subsoil use agreements in western Kazakhstan on behalf of an Asian national oil and gas company.

Acquisition of KUFPEC Indonesia (Pangkah) by Asian Indonesia state owned enterprise.

Acquisition of an indirect equity interest in a Jakarta Stock Exchange listed holding company with multiple Indonesian PSCs, international assets, and power, petrochemicals, exploration and drilling company subsidiaries.

Acquisition of shares of multiple companies with oil and gas participation and service contracts in Ecuador including a major interest in an oil pipeline.

Acquisition of subsidiaries of U.S. international oil company holding petroleum licenses in Peru and Argentina.

Acquisition of shareholding in subsidiaries of U.S. international oil companies holding PSC interests in offshore China.

Acquisition of interest of subsidiary of U.S. international oil company holding interests in petroleum concessions in Gulf of Thailand.

Acquisition of interest in an international oil company holding oil and gas assets in Bolivia, Argentina, and Turkmenistan.

Acquisition of company owning an interest in Uzen field in Kazakhstan for a Chinese national oil company.

Acquisition of companies holding production sharing contracts in Azerbaijan on behalf of U.S. major.

Subscription of shares of company with interests in multiple coal bed methane PSCs and gas distribution system in China and associated infrastructure.

Acquisition of a majority shareholding in a Nigerian company owning a local refinery.

Asset Acquisition/Disposals and Swaps

Proposed acquisition of interests in licenses in the NCS and UKCS sectors from Statoil on behalf of an Asian national oil company.

Proposed acquisition of participating interests owned by Murphy Oil Company in Malaysia on behalf of an Asian national oil company.

Proposed acquisition of independent oil company owning then-world’s largest oilfield offshore Africa (Ghana) on behalf of Chinese national oil company.

Acquisition of interest in an oil prospecting license and oil mining licenses in Nigeria.

Acquisition of an interest in a PSC and restructuring of related industry agreements in Equatorial Guinea.

Acquisition of gas producing blocks in Turkmenistan on behalf of Asian national oil company, including commercialization of related arbitration award.

Swap transaction involving the exchange of interests in petroleum licenses in Tunisia for an interest in an Indonesia PSC.

Public tender for oil and gas Exploration and Production Sharing Agreement in Libya.

Acquisition and operation of privatized gas transportation system in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

Acquisition of interest in offshore blocks in Liberia on behalf of Chinese NOC.

Exploration joint venture with Nexen involving multiple prospects and leases in US Gulf of Mexico on behalf of Chinese NOC.

Industry Transactions

Transfer of operatorship from IOC to Chinese NOC in sour gas field in China, including documentation and negotiation of documentation of amendments to core agreements underpinning the project.

Transition agreements in connection with handover of large offshore natural gas field in Gulf of Thailand to Kingdom of Thailand for transfer to successor operator.

Agreements for decommissioning of assets in Gulf of Thailand at the end of production period of concession covering largest natural gas field in Thailand, including advice regarding implications of decommissioning on interests transferred to successor operator.

Petroleum Agreement and related industry agreements and legislative amendments in connection with the acquisition of an oil and gas block in Cambodia.

Joint venture agreement between a national oil company and oilfield services company (and related documents) to provide onshore oilfield services to companies operating in Indonesia.

Consortium agreement, revised production sharing contract and related operating agreements, for the development of a large offshore gas field in Indonesia.

Advice regarding production sharing contract and natural gas sales agreement associated with operation of sour gas field in Sichuan China on behalf of IOC, including resolution of multi-year dispute regarding funding of major capital project.

Modifications to Petroleum Contract on behalf of international oil company to address changes in PRC abandonment regime.

Long term gas supply agreement with Chinese NOC on behalf of Hong Kong electric utility.

Exploration joint venture with an Indonesian JSX listed energy company covering twelve PSCs, and related farming arrangements.

Offshore rig upgrade and sharing agreement for use in Southeast Asia.

Master services agreement for use in upstream operations in Vietnam.

Restructuring and refinancing, crude oil offtake, joint operating agreements and related secondment agreements for oil producing blocks in Peru.

Crude oil sales agreement and refined product sales agreement in Nigeria.

Intergovernmental agreements on behalf of IOC regarding construction and approval of the Caspian Pipeline (Kazakhstan).

Crude purchase agreement with PEMEX on behalf of independent U.S. oil company.

International joint venture in connection with the development of an oil sands project in Alberta, Canada.

Matters

Share Acquisitions/Disposals

Acquisition by a consortium of international investors led by a subsidiary of Temasek Holdings (Private) Limited in the acquisition of a majority stake in U.S.-based oilfield service company Frac Tech Holdings, LLC.

Acquisition by PT Pertamina (Persero) of BP West Java Limited from subsidiary of BP plc.

Bid for acquisition of oil and gas joint stock company with subsoil use agreements in western Kazakhstan on behalf of an Asian national oil and gas company.

See more

Close

Matters

Share Acquisitions/Disposals

Acquisition by a consortium of international investors led by a subsidiary of Temasek Holdings (Private) Limited in the acquisition of a majority stake in U.S.-based oilfield service company Frac Tech Holdings, LLC.

Acquisition by PT Pertamina (Persero) of BP West Java Limited from subsidiary of BP plc.

Bid for acquisition of oil and gas joint stock company with subsoil use agreements in western Kazakhstan on behalf of an Asian national oil and gas company.

Acquisition of KUFPEC Indonesia (Pangkah) by Asian Indonesia state owned enterprise.

Acquisition of an indirect equity interest in a Jakarta Stock Exchange listed holding company with multiple Indonesian PSCs, international assets, and power, petrochemicals, exploration and drilling company subsidiaries.

Acquisition of shares of multiple companies with oil and gas participation and service contracts in Ecuador including a major interest in an oil pipeline.

Acquisition of subsidiaries of U.S. international oil company holding petroleum licenses in Peru and Argentina.

Acquisition of shareholding in subsidiaries of U.S. international oil companies holding PSC interests in offshore China.

Acquisition of interest of subsidiary of U.S. international oil company holding interests in petroleum concessions in Gulf of Thailand.

Acquisition of interest in an international oil company holding oil and gas assets in Bolivia, Argentina, and Turkmenistan.

Acquisition of company owning an interest in Uzen field in Kazakhstan for a Chinese national oil company.

Acquisition of companies holding production sharing contracts in Azerbaijan on behalf of U.S. major.

Subscription of shares of company with interests in multiple coal bed methane PSCs and gas distribution system in China and associated infrastructure.

Acquisition of a majority shareholding in a Nigerian company owning a local refinery.

Asset Acquisition/Disposals and Swaps

Proposed acquisition of interests in licenses in the NCS and UKCS sectors from Statoil on behalf of an Asian national oil company.

Proposed acquisition of participating interests owned by Murphy Oil Company in Malaysia on behalf of an Asian national oil company.

Proposed acquisition of independent oil company owning then-world’s largest oilfield offshore Africa (Ghana) on behalf of Chinese national oil company.

Acquisition of interest in an oil prospecting license and oil mining licenses in Nigeria.

Acquisition of an interest in a PSC and restructuring of related industry agreements in Equatorial Guinea.

Acquisition of gas producing blocks in Turkmenistan on behalf of Asian national oil company, including commercialization of related arbitration award.

Swap transaction involving the exchange of interests in petroleum licenses in Tunisia for an interest in an Indonesia PSC.

Public tender for oil and gas Exploration and Production Sharing Agreement in Libya.

Acquisition and operation of privatized gas transportation system in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

Acquisition of interest in offshore blocks in Liberia on behalf of Chinese NOC.

Exploration joint venture with Nexen involving multiple prospects and leases in US Gulf of Mexico on behalf of Chinese NOC.

Industry Transactions

Transfer of operatorship from IOC to Chinese NOC in sour gas field in China, including documentation and negotiation of documentation of amendments to core agreements underpinning the project.

Transition agreements in connection with handover of large offshore natural gas field in Gulf of Thailand to Kingdom of Thailand for transfer to successor operator.

Agreements for decommissioning of assets in Gulf of Thailand at the end of production period of concession covering largest natural gas field in Thailand, including advice regarding implications of decommissioning on interests transferred to successor operator.

Petroleum Agreement and related industry agreements and legislative amendments in connection with the acquisition of an oil and gas block in Cambodia.

Joint venture agreement between a national oil company and oilfield services company (and related documents) to provide onshore oilfield services to companies operating in Indonesia.

Consortium agreement, revised production sharing contract and related operating agreements, for the development of a large offshore gas field in Indonesia.

Advice regarding production sharing contract and natural gas sales agreement associated with operation of sour gas field in Sichuan China on behalf of IOC, including resolution of multi-year dispute regarding funding of major capital project.

Modifications to Petroleum Contract on behalf of international oil company to address changes in PRC abandonment regime.

Long term gas supply agreement with Chinese NOC on behalf of Hong Kong electric utility.

Exploration joint venture with an Indonesian JSX listed energy company covering twelve PSCs, and related farming arrangements.

Offshore rig upgrade and sharing agreement for use in Southeast Asia.

Master services agreement for use in upstream operations in Vietnam.

Restructuring and refinancing, crude oil offtake, joint operating agreements and related secondment agreements for oil producing blocks in Peru.

Crude oil sales agreement and refined product sales agreement in Nigeria.

Intergovernmental agreements on behalf of IOC regarding construction and approval of the Caspian Pipeline (Kazakhstan).

Crude purchase agreement with PEMEX on behalf of independent U.S. oil company.

International joint venture in connection with the development of an oil sands project in Alberta, Canada.

Credentials

J.D., Notre Dame Law School

B.S. Political Science, Arizona State University, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa

Alaska

California

Hong Kong Registered Foreign Lawyer

Japan Gaikokuho-Jimu-Bengoshi

Texas

Judicial Clerk, Justice Warren W. Matthews, Jr., Alaska

Asia Regional Director, Association of International Energy Negotiators (AIPN)

Co-Chair, CCUS Task Force, Association of International Energy Negotiators (AIEN)

Hong Kong Law Society

Japan – Gaikokuhojimubengoshi (Admitted 08/01/2023; Reg. G1240)

Recognized


Lawyer Of The Year In Energy And Natural Resources Law (International Firms In Beijing), Best Lawyers

Listed


Guide To The World's Leading Energy Attorneys, Euromoney

Recognized


The International Who's Who of Oil & Gas Lawyers, 2007-2020

Listed


Guide to World's Leading Energy Attorneys, 2010-2020

Energy & Natural Resources (International Firms)


China, Chambers & Partners Asia Pacific 2010-2020

Close

Recognition

Recognized


Lawyer Of The Year In Energy And Natural Resources Law (International Firms In Beijing), Best Lawyers

Listed


Guide To The World's Leading Energy Attorneys, Euromoney

Recognized


The International Who's Who of Oil & Gas Lawyers, 2007-2020

Listed


Guide to World's Leading Energy Attorneys, 2010-2020

Energy & Natural Resources (International Firms)


China, Chambers & Partners Asia Pacific 2010-2020