Australia’s Woodside Petroleum Ltd. (WPL) agreed to pay Apache Corp. (APA) $2.75 billion for stakes in two liquefied natural gas projects, while delaying approval for its own $35 billion-development off the nation’s northwest coast. The Apache transaction will give Woodside interests in the Wheatstone LNG and Balnaves oil projects in Australia as well as Canada ’s Kitimat LNG development. The projects are among dozens under construction or consideration worldwide as companies seek to feed Asian markets hungry for gas. Woodside has been seeking acquisitions after its $2.7 billion plan to buy back shares from Royal Dutch Shell Plc was blocked by investors. Apache, facing pressure from activist hedge fund Jana Partners LLC to cut spending and focus on the U.S., said in July it was seeking to exit the proposed Canadian project and the facility under construction in Australia. The Apache deal “adds production growth in a period when […]