Apache Corp., which has dedicated itself to pare debt and concentrate on its most profitable enterprises, is selling some dry natural gas-rich assets in Canada for $112 million.

In two separate transactions, Apache agreed to sell producing acreage in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin, all primarily dry gas developments, in Saskatchewan and Alberta. The assets include the Hatton, St. Lina, Marten Hills, Snipe Lake, Valhalla and part of the Hawkeye producing properties. The buyers weren’t disclosed.

“In Canada, Apache is focused on growing liquids production from a deep inventory of crude oil- and liquids-rich opportunities in Canada’s Western Sedimentary Basin,” said COO Rodney J. Eichler. “Our extensive remaining acreage in these areas can generate attractive rates of return and provide for more predictable production growth.”

Of the WCSB properties now being sold, Apache at the end of June had about 4,000 operated and 1,300 nonoperated wells, with production averaging 38 MMcf/d of gas and 750 b/d of oil and liquids.

In just the past few months, Apache has made agreements to sell big packages of assets in Canada, the shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), Alaska and in Egypt. The sales are being done to fund more development, particularly the Permian Basin, Apache’s top producer in North America (see Daily GPI, Sept. 3).

Apache also remains focused on advancing two big liquefied natural gas export projects, one in Australia and the other in Kitimat, British Columbia. Kitimat would allow the Houston operator “to monetize large unconventional resources in the Liard and Horn River basins” in the northern part of the province. Apache is an equal partner in Kitimat with Chevron Corp.

Canada’s Liard and Horn River basins, both said to be gas gushers, remain top priorities in Canada as well. CEO G. Steven Farris has said Liard could be among the top natural gas fields in North America.

Including transactions involving sales in Canada, the GOM and Egypt, Apache as of Wednesday had announced sales worth nearly $7.2 billion, Eichler noted. The latest sale is set to close by the end of the year.