Since Kinder Morgan's $21+ billion acquisition of El Paso was announced, it was believed Kinder would sell the accompanying exploration and production assets. We explored the possibility in more detail in the blog post "El Paso's Eagle Ford Assets on the Market" The real question is whether the e&p assets will be sold all together or if they will be sold in parts. I'm sure Mr. Kinder knows how much other deals have gone for and he'll want to get a similar premium for El Paso's Eagle Ford assets. If he doesn't get the premium or dang close baked into a deal for the entire business unit, he'll sell the assets off one by one. Expect a decision on selling the whole or parts real soon. Publicized estimates of El Paso's e&p value are around $8 billion.

Both Reliance Industries and Apollo Global Management are in talks to buy the unit. Reliance would be buying an operated stake in the U.S. where to date it only acts as a non-operated partner in the Marcellus Shale. Apollo would be adding a significant e&p business that it would likely grow and market to other companies or eventually IPO. Private equity firms like Apollo usually hold assets for 3-10 years. 

Reliance Industries Ltd. and Apollo Global Management LLC are among companies in talks to buy El Paso Corp.'s oil and gas exploration and production unit, said people with knowledge of the matter.