Lukoil to consider spinning off Europe downstream assets, focus on drilling

By Olesya Astakhova, Katya Golubkova and Dmitry Zhdannikov ST PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) - Russia's Lukoil may consider spinning off or selling its downstream assets in Europe to focus on exploration both in Russia and abroad, Chief Executive Vagit Alekperov told Reuters in an interview. Lukoil, which is pumping around 2 million barrels of oil per day (bpd) - a little less than OPEC member Venezuela does - is refocusing on upstream both at home and abroad, Alekperov said. In the medium-term, t