Chevron will proceed with its $53 billion acquisition of Hess, after it prevailed in a landmark legal battle against larger rival Exxon Mobil to gain access to the largest oil discovery in decades.

Chevron struck the deal to acquire Hess in October 2023. Exxon tried to block the move last year, saying it had a right of first refusal to buy Hess’ Guyana assets because of its joint operating agreement with Hess and the China National Offshore Oil Corp., or Cnooc, for the Stabroek Block.

Arbitrators cleared the way for the long-delayed $53 billion acquisition after Exxon tried to pre-empt the deal.

Chevron has prevailed against Exxon Mobil in a dispute over Hess Corporation’s offshore oil assets in the South American nation of Guyana.

An arbitrator cleared the way for Chevron to buy Hess, allowing the energy giant to acquire a piece of one of the most promising oil projects in the world.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission on Thursday reversed a previous order that had barred Hess Corp CEO John Hess from the board of directors at Chevron as a condition of the oil giant's pending $53 billion acquisition of his company.

The FTC has reopened an order involving Chevron’s proposed acquisition of Hess, and another regarding Exxon Mobil’s proposed purchase of Pioneer Natural Resources after its initial complaints failed to plead any antitrust law violation.