Premier Oil has linked with Apollo Global Management, the US private equity fund, in a push for UK North Sea oil and gas fields owned by Chevron, it is reported.

Edinburgh-registered Premier declined to comment on the claims from industry sources. The firm has previously said it was seeking to acquire assets in the region.

The company has also said it would look at strategic assets, indicating there are a number of processes in the UK North Sea under way, but that it is not guaranteed that it will make a bid over single assets or packages.

It is understood that no move is “imminent”.