CONOCOPHILLIPS has begun to market deep-water assets following a decision to leave the sector.

However, the US operator is in no rush to get a deal done in what it calls a “soft” market for oil and gas properties.

The company owns a stake in a number of key deep-water assets that are development candidates in the US Gulf of Mexico, including the Anadarko-operated Shenandoah and Chevron-operated Tigris multi-field development area.

“What