The permitting slowdown has caused the United States to drop 6 percent from its projected share of worldwide oil and natural gas investment in 2011.

Also provides system design and project management services for worldwide offshore oil and gas completion operations.

The United States accounted for 59 percent of Oxy's worldwide oil and gas production for 2011.

The latest moves are part of Occidental's reorganization of worldwide oil and gas operations, announced in October.

Sepanta International is a worldwide oil and natural gas extraction and drilling company.

Richard J. Stegemeier, Unocal's chief executive, said international operations were strong and worldwide oil and gas production rose.

Last year its worldwide crude oil reserves fell 20 percent, to 718 million barrels, according to the company's annual report.

The partnership initially will focus on three core survival courses applicable to the worldwide oil and gas industry.

The company's worldwide oil and gas exploration and production operations earned $189 million in the quarter, up from $80 million a year earlier.

Profits from worldwide oil and gas production rose in the quarter, before special items, to $206 million, from $154 million.