BRITISH Gas is to sell its 14% interest in block 16/17 in the central

North Sea, which contains two oilfields under development and two

smaller oil accumulations.

Their share has been bought by LL&E (UK), a wholly owned subsidiary of

the Louisiana Land and Exploration Company for $232m.

Mr Howard Dalton, managing director of exploration and production for

British Gas, said: ''The sale is being undertaken as part of the ongoing

rationalisation of our UK portfolio in order to focus on areas of

greater strategic value.''

Block 16/17 known as the ''T-Block'', contains the Tiffany and Toni

fields, which are under development as well as the smaller fields, whose

development is under review.