Equinor confirmed in late January 2020 that Malaysian state oil company Petronas is in the process of acquiring 30% WI in the Paleogene Monument prospect from Equinor. The Monument prospect and associated acreage encompass Walker Ridge blocks WR 227 (G35732), WR 270 (G34640), WR 271 (G35080), WR 272 (G35081), WR 315 (G35733) and WR 316 (G36084). WR 316 is the surface location of the Monument NFW, G35080 1, which was spudded on 16 December 2019 with the "Pacific Khamsin" drillship. On 24 January 2020, Petronas, via its local subsidiary Progress Resources USA, formally completed acquisition of 30% WI in WR 227, WR 315 and WR 316. The transactions have an effective date as of 17 January 2020. Repsol completed acquisition of 20% equity from operator Equinor in the aforementioned six Walker Ridge blocks on 3 January 2020. In May 2015, Equinor (then known as Statoil) said it had "high-graded" the Monument prospect and called it "potentially massive" a statement that is backed up by the fact the company paid a combined bonus of ~US$ 93 million for the two blocks at OCS Sale 227 in 2013. Venari Offshore divested its entire 40% WI stake in WR 271 and WR 272 in late October 2019. Prior to the close of the pending Petronas transaction, equity in WR 227, WR 270 and WR 272 is presently shared between Equinor Gulf of Mexico (80% WI + Op) and Repsol E&P USA (20%).
Petronas has taken a 30% stake in the high-profile Monument exploration well currently being drilled by Equinor (->50% op, Repsol 20%) in the six DW associated blocks WR 270, 271 (G35080), 272, 227, 315 and 316.