Cnooc's (CEO) intention to take over Nexen (NXY.T) would give the Chinese company access to Nexen's extensive experience with unconventional oil and gas resources in North America, says JBC Energy. 
This comes "as China has hopes of developing these resources back home on their own turf in order to help quench the future energy thirst of its economy," he says. 
In addition, the planned purchase of Nexen would give Cnooc more insight into the dynamics of North Sea fundamentals, he notes. ICE September Brent is up 51 cents, or 0.5%, at $103.74/bbl. Nymex September crude is up 35 cents, or 0.4%, at $88.48/bbl.