NEW YORK, Sept 10 (Reuters) - The United States and EuropeanUnion are poised to stop billions of dollars in oil explorationin Russia by the world's largest energy companies, includingExxon Mobil Corp and BP Plc, according to areport on Wednesday.
The new sanctions would prevent U.S. and Europeancooperation in searching Russia's Arctic, deep seas or shaleformations for crude, Bloomberg reported, citing three U.S.officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because themeasures have not been made public.
The report comes as European Union officials delayed adecision on whether to implement measures against Russia over military involvement in the war in Ukraine. They will meet forfurther talks on Thursday.
Once the EU implemented the new ban on sharing energytechnology and services, the United States would follow suitwith similar measures, including barring the export of U.S. gearand expertise for the specialized exploration that Russians areunequipped to pursue on their own, the U.S. officials said inthe report. (Reporting by Josephine Mason; Editing by Tom Brown)