Major BP (NYSE:BP) Assets Not of Interest to Eni SpA (NYSE:E)

Italian natural gas and oil giant Eni SpA (NYSE:E), said in a statement today that they aren't interested in acquiring major assets BP is putting on the selling block.

Claudio Descalzi, head of Eni's exploration and production division, siad the company has no "need to buy any producing assets."

Eni itself is looking to shed between $3 billion to $4 billion of its own assets, and is looking toward Indonesia and Egypt as the markets they're interested in expanding into.

CEO Paolo Scaroni noted on the conference call that Eni is looking for buyers of about $4 billion of their assets at this time.

Marathon (NYSE:MRO), Anadarko (NYSE:APC), Shell (NYSE:RDS-A), Most Exposed to Gulf Ban

As the market digests the move by Barack Obama to ban drilling at 33 locations in the Gulf of Mexico, those companies most affected by the ban are Marathon (NYSE:MRO), Anadarko (NYSE:APC), Shell (NYSE:RDS-A), along with Eni SpA, which are based in Rome.

Shell leads the way of those with most exposure to the drilling ban, with five wells affected, while Marathon, Anadarko, and Eni SpA each have three. That's according to an official at the Minerals Management Service who asked not to be named.

Shell, Marathon and Anadarko were all hit hard as the market found out about their exposure, with Anadarko taking the brunt of it with a drop of $3.24 a share, or 5.83 percent, ending the session at $52.33; Marathon lost $0.55 a share, or 1.74 percent, falling to $31.09 on the day; and Shell wasn't far behind them, losing $0.61 a share, or 1.15 percent, closing at $52.40.

Anadarko has more exposure through it 25 percent non-operating ownership in the Deepwater Horizon, which is lying at the bottom of the ocean.

BG Group (LSE:BG) Battling for Karachaganak Stake

With Kazakhstan desiring to push its way into a stake into the huge Karachaganak oil and gas field in the western part of the country, BG Group (LSE:BG) has been fighting the move, as it would mean they would lose a portion of its stake in the lucrative project.

Also part of the consortium operating the field are Eni SpA (MI:ENI) from Italy, LUKOIL (MM:LKOH) from Russia and Chevron (NYSE:CVX) from the U.S.

The latest pressure from Kazakhstan to force its way into the consortium is to accuse the KPO of transgressing the immigration laws of the country.

Another bizarre strategy was to accuse Karachaganak of producing more oil and gas than under agreement with the government in 2008.

Ongoing talks are reportedly strained, and it's understandable why when you look at what the Kazakhstan government is attempting to do.