Striving

Apache Corp., striving to balance its U.S. operations against a growing international base, last week agreed to pay $1 billion to acquire the controlling interests in 28 oil and natural gas fields in the Permian Basin. The assets, purchased as part of a joint venture agreement with Anadarko Petroleum Corp., are expected to produce 9,000 b/d of oil and 18 MMcf/d of natural gas net to Apache this year.