Chevron exploring sale of Canada oil sands stake worth about $2.5 bln -sources

(Adds comment from Alberta premier)

By John Tilak and David French

TORONTO/NEW YORK, April 13 (Reuters) - Chevron Corp, the second-largest U.S.-based oil producer, is exploring the sale of its 20 percent stake in Canada's Athabasca Oil Sands project, which could fetch about $2.5 billion, according to people familiar with the situation.

The company has discussed with investment banks the prospect of selling the stake in the western Canadian oil sands (Other OTC: COSWF - news) project, a source said.

The possible sale comes after Royal Dutch Shell (LSE: 0LN9.L - news) last month agreed to sell most of its Canadian oil sands assets to Canadian Natural Resources Ltd for $8.5 billion.

Chevron (Euronext: CHTEX.NX - news) does not find the oil sands business appealing in the current environment, as low oil prices make it more challenging for global producers to generate profits, the people said, declining to be named as the matter is confidential.

The California-based company is close to making a decision, taking into account factors such as price, the sources added.

Canadian Natural is seen as a logical buyer as it will be the majority owner and operator of the Athabasca Oil Sands project once the Shell (LSE: RDSB.L - news) deal closes, the people said.

A Chevron spokesman and a Canadian Natural spokeswoman declined to comment.

The move comes as international players are pulling back from the Canadian energy market, particularly the capital intensive oil sands. A range of factors are contributing to investor apathy toward Canada, including weak oil prices, the higher cost of Canadian operations compared with cheap U.S. shale plays and limited export pipeline capacity out of western Canada.

Asked on Thursday about Chevron's possible sale and whether her government would consider tweaking policies to be more business friendly, Alberta Premier Rachel Notley told reporters: "What’s going on frankly in the oil sands is you’re seeing a reorganization, you’re not seeing people pull back investment per se."

In March, ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP - news) , the largest independent oil producer, agreed to sell its oil sands and natural gas assets to Calgary-based Cenovus Energy (NYSE: CVE - news) for about C$17.1 billion ($12.9 billion).

Chevron, which posted its first annual loss since 1987 last year, is working on a two-year plan to sell $5 billion to $10 billion in assets in 2016 and 2017. It is expecting to see several growth projects long in the planning, including Australian liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects, to come online this year.

The company is also boosting spending on its low-cost Permian shale operations, all with the goal of making Chevron cash-flow neutral this year. ($1 = 1.3247 Canadian dollars) (Reporting by John Tilak in Toronto, David French in New York and Ethan Lou in Calgary, additional reporting by Ernest Scheyder in Houston, Nia Williams in Calgary and Jessica Resnick-Ault in New York; editing by Denny Thomas and Tom Brown)