**Exhibit 23.9**

 

**NEXEN INC.**

 

 

**Report of Third Party**

 

**For Certain Properties**

 

**Located in the**

 

**United States Gulf of Mexico**

 

 

**SEC Parameters**

 

 

**As of**

 

**December 31,2009**

 

 

|   |   | /s/ Richard J Savoie        |   |   |
|--------|--------|-----------------------------|--------|--------|
|   |   | Richard J.  Savoie, P.E.    |   |   |
|   |   | TBPE License No. 405.8 |   |   |
|   |   | Senior Vice  President      |   |   |

 

**RYDERSCOTT COMPANY, L.P.**

TBPE FirmRegistration No. F-1580

 

[SEAL]

 

 

RYDER SCOTTCOMPANY PETROLEUM CONSULTANTS

 

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|        |                                               |                      |                      |
|--------|-----------------------------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|
|   |  TBPE REGISTERED ENGINEERING FIRM F-1580 | FAX (713)  651-0849       |
|   |  1100 LOUISIANA SUITE 3800               | HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002-5218 | TELEPHONE (713)  651-9191 |

 

January 29, 2010

 

NexenInc.

801-7th Avenue S.W.

Calgary,AB

T2P3P7

 

**Attention:Reserves Review Committee of the Board of Directors of Nexen Inc.**

 

**Re: Ryder Scott Company L.P. — Report of Third Party for certain propertieslocated in the United States Gulf of Mexico with interests owned by Nexen Inc.**

 

Ladiesand Gentlemen:

 

Pursuant to your request, RyderScott Company L.P. (Ryder Scott) has conducted an independent evaluation ofNexen Inc.’s (“Nexen”) proved and probable oil, natural gas liquids (“NGL”),and gas reserves for certain properties owned by Nexen in the United StatesGulf of Mexico Shelf and Deep Water.  Theproperties evaluated are listed in Table 1A.  Nexen has represented that these propertiesaccount for 4.5 percent of its total company proved reserves and 1.9 percent ofits total company probable reserves on an equivalent barrel basis as of December 31,2009, and that its reserve estimates have been prepared in accordance with theUnited States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) definitions.  We have reviewed information provided to us byNexen that they represent to be its estimate of the reserves, as of December 31,2009, for the same properties as those which we evaluated.

 

The proved and probable reservesincluded herein are expressed as reserves as represented by Nexen.  Gross reserves are defined as the totalestimated petroleum to be produced from these properties after December 31,2009.  Working interest reserves aredefined as that portion of the gross reserves attributable to the interestsowned by Nexen after deducting all working interests owned by others.  Net reserves are defined as working interestreserves after the deduction of royalties.

 

Estimates of oil,condensate, and NGL (collectively “Liquids”), and natural gas reserves shouldbe regarded only as estimates that may change as further production history andadditional information become available.  Not only are such reserves estimates based onthat information which is currently available, but such estimates are alsosubject to the uncertainties inherent in the application of judgmental factorsin interpreting such information.

 

Data used in this evaluationwere obtained from reviews with Nexen personnel, Nexen files, from records on filewith the appropriate regulatory agencies, and from public sources.  In the preparation of this report we haverelied, without independent verification, upon such information furnished byNexen with respect to property interests, production from such properties,current costs of operation and development, prices for production, agreementsrelating to current and future operations and sale of production, and variousother information and data that were accepted as represented.  Furthermore, if in the course of ourexamination something came to our attention which brought into question thevalidity or sufficiency of any of such information or data, we did not rely onsuch information or data until we had satisfactorily resolved our questionsrelating thereto or had independently verified such information or data.  A field examination of the properties was notconsidered necessary for the purposes of this report.

 

| 1200, 530 8TH AVENUE,  S.W.  |   | CALGARY, ALBERTA T2P 3S8     |   | TEL (403) 262-2799 |   | FAX (403) 262-2790 |
|------------------------------|--------|------------------------------|--------|--------------------|--------|--------------------|
| 621 17TH STREET, SUITE  1550 |   | DENVER, COLORADO  80293-1501 |   | TEL (303) 623-9147 |   | FAX (303) 623-4258 |

 

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Nexen, Inc.

January 29, 2010

Page 2

 

**Methodologyand Procedures**

 

The process of estimatingreserves requires complex judgments and decision-making based on availablegeological, geophysical, engineering and economic data.  To estimate the economically recoverable oiland natural gas reserves and related future net cash flows, we consider manyfactors and make assumptions including:

 

·                  reservoir characteristicsbased on geological, geophysical and engineering assessments;

·                  future production ratesbased on historical performance and expected future operating and investmentactivities;

·                  quality differentials andhydrocarbon prices as required by SEC guidelines;

·                  assumed effects ofregulation by governmental agencies; and

·                  future development andoperating costs.

 

Our estimate is preparedusing standard geological and engineering methods generally accepted by thepetroleum industry, and the reserves definitions and standards required by theUnited States SEC.  Generally acceptedmethods for estimating reserves include volumetric calculations, materialbalance techniques, production and pressure decline curve analysis, analogywith similar reservoirs, and reservoir simulation.  The method or combination of methods used isbased on our professional judgment and experience.

 

Discovered oil and naturalgas reserves are generally only produced when they are economicallyrecoverable.  As such, oil and gasprices, and capital and operating costs have an impact on whether reserves willultimately be produced.  As required bySEC rules, reserves represent the quantities that we expect to economicallyrecover using existing prices and costs.  Estimates may change substantially asadditional data from ongoing development activities and production performancebecomes available and as economic conditions impacting oil and gas prices andcosts change.

 

Generally, operations aresubject to various levels of government controls and regulations.  These laws and regulations may includematters relating to land tenure, drilling, production practices, environmentalprotection, marketing and pricing policies, royalties, various taxes and leviesincluding income tax, and foreign trade and investment, that are subject tochange from time to time.  Currentlegislation is generally a matter of public record, and additional legislationor amendments that will affect reserves or when any such proposals, if enacted,might become effective generally can not be predicted.  Changes in government regulations couldaffect reserves or related economics.  Inthe regions that are currently being evaluated we believe we have appliedexisting regulations appropriately.

 

**Nexen Estimates**

 

Nexen has represented thatestimated proved and probable reserves attributable to the evaluated propertiesare based on SEC definitions.  Itrepresents that its estimates of the reserves attributable to these propertiesrepresent 4.5 percent of its total company proved reserves and 1.9 percent of itstotal company probable reserves on a equivalent basis are as follows, expressedin thousands of barrels (mbbl), millions of cubic feet (mmcf) and thousands ofbarrels of oil equivalent (mboe):

 

RYDER SCOTT COMPANY   PETROLEUM CONSULTANTS

 

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Nexen, Inc.

January 29, 2010

Page 3

 

**Nexen’s Estimate of Reserves as of December 31, 2009**

**Selected Gulf of Mexico Properties Evaluated by Ryder ScottCompany L.P.**

 
| ** **                                      | ** ** | **Liquids** | ** ** | **Natural Gas** | ** ** | **Oil Equivalent** | ** ** |
|-------------------------------------------------|------------|-------------|------------|-----------------|------------|--------------------|------------|
| ** **                                      | ** ** | **(mbbl)**  | ** ** | **(mmcf)**      | ** ** | **(mboe)**         | ** ** |
| **Working Interest Reserves(before royalties)** |       |        |       |            |       |               |       |
| **Total Proved**                                |       | 18,178      |       | 167,015         |       | 46,013             |       |
| **Total Probable**                              |       | 6,625       |       | 99,022          |       | 23,128             |       |
| **Working Interest Reserves (after royalties)** |       |        |       |            |       |               |       |
| **Total Proved**                                |       | 16,175      |       | 145,876         |       | 40,488             |       |
| **Total Probable**                              |       | 5,848       |       | 84,704          |       | 19,965             |       |

 

Note: Natural gas is converted to oil equivalentusing a factor of 6,000 cubic feet of gas per 1 barrel of oil equivalent.

 

**ReservesAudit Opinion**

 

AtNexen’s request, we have compared the proved and probable reservesindependently evaluated by us to the reserves prepared by Nexen according tothe definitions and disclosure guidelines required by the United States SEC containedin the Securities and Exchange Commission Title 17, Code of FederalRegulations, Modernization of Oil and Gas Reporting, released January 14,2009 in the Federal Register (“SEC definitions”) and the Accounting StandardsUpdate 2010-3 Amendments to Topic 932 (“ASU Topic 932”) published by theFinancial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) in the FASB Accounting StandardsCodification.

 

Inour opinion, the estimated reserves prepared by Nexen referred to above for theproperties reviewed comply with the SEC definitions and ASU Topic 932.  In comparing the detailed proved and provedplus probable reserves evaluated by us to those prepared by Nexen, we havefound differences, both positive and negative. In our opinion, the proved and proved plus probable reserves for thereviewed properties as estimated by Nexen are, in aggregate, when compared toour estimates on the basis of equivalent barrels, reasonable within theestablished audit tolerance guidelines as set forth in the Standards Pertainingto the Estimating and Auditing of Oil and Gas Reserves Information promulgatedby the Society of Petroleum Engineers.

 

Ryder Scott has used allprocedures and methods that it considers necessary to prepare this report.  Ryder Scott is an independent petroleumengineering consulting firm that has been providing petroleum consulting servicesthroughout the world for over seventy years. Ryder Scott does not have any financial interest, including stockownership, in Nexen.  Our fees were notcontingent on the results of our evaluation.

 

The professionalqualifications for Mr. Richard J. Savoie, the technical person primarilyresponsible for estimating and auditing the reserves information discussed inthis letter report, are included as an attachment to this letter.

 

RYDER SCOTT COMPANY   PETROLEUM CONSULTANTS

 

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Nexen, Inc.

January 29, 2010

Page 4

 

This letter report has beenprepared at the request of Nexen and should not be used for purposes other thanthose for which it is intended.

 
|   | Sincerely,                              |
|--------|-----------------------------------------|
|   |                                    |
|   | **RYDER  SCOTT COMPANY L.P.**           |
|   | TBPE Firm Registration  No. F-1580 |
|   |                                    |
|   |                                    |
|   | /s/  Richard J Savoie                   |
|   |                                    |
|   | Richard  J. Savoie, P. E.               |
|   | TBPE  License No. 40538            |
|   | Senior  Vice President                  |
|   |                                    |
|   | [SEAL]                                  |
| cc:    | Mr. Steve  Aeschbach               |   |
|   | Reserves  Manager                       |   |
|   | Nexen  Petroleum U.S.A. Inc.            |   |
|   |                                    |   |
|   | Mr. Brad  Kopas                    |   |
|   | Deloitte & Touche LLP          |   |

 

RYDER SCOTT COMPANY   PETROLEUM CONSULTANTS

 

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Nexen, Inc.

January 29, 2010

Page 5

 

**Table 1A**

**Nexen Fields Evaluated by Ryder Scott Company L.P.**

**United States: Gulf of Mexico properties**

**As of December 31, 2009**

 
| Shelf Properties        |                    |
|-------------------------|-------------------------|
| Eugene Island 18        | South  Marsh Island 257 |
| Eugene Island 255-57-58 | Vermilion  76           |
| Eugene Island 259       | Vermilion 302/321       |
| Eugene Island 295       | Vermilion  339/340      |
| High  Island 582        | West  Cameron 170       |
| Cote  de Mer            |                    |

 
| Deep Water Properties  |             |
|------------------------|------------------|
| Aspen                  | Knotty  Head     |
| Dawson                 | Longhorn         |
| Garden  Banks 205      | Gunnison         |
| Mississippi  Canyon 72 | Green  Canyon 50 |
| Green  Canyon 6        | Tobago           |
| Green  Canyon 137      | Wrigley          |

 

RYDER SCOTT COMPANY   PETROLEUM CONSULTANTS

 

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**Professional Qualifications of Primary Technical Person**

 

Theconclusions presented in this report are the result of technical analysisconducted by teams of geoscientists and engineers from Ryder Scott Company,L.P.  Mr. Richard J. Savoie is theprimary technical person responsible for the estimate of the reserves, futureproduction, and income presented herein.

 

Mr. Savoie,an employee of Ryder Scott Company L.P. (Ryder Scott) since 1997, is a SeniorVice President and also serves as an Engineering Group Coordinator responsiblefor coordinating and supervising staff and consulting engineers of the companyin ongoing reservoir evaluation studies worldwide.  Before joining Ryder Scott, Mr. Savoieserved in a number of engineering positions with Shell Oil Company, Union TexasPetroleum, Kaneb Operating Company, Ltd., Amax Oil and Gas, Inc., andAmerac Energy Corporation.  For moreinformation regarding Mr. Savoie’s geographic and job specific experience,please refer to the Ryder Scott Company website at http://www.ryderscott.com/Experience/Employees.php.

 

Mr. Savoieearned a Bachelor of Science degree in Petroleum Engineering from LouisianaState University in 1968 and is a registered Professional Engineer in the Stateof Texas.  He is also a member of theSociety of Petroleum Engineers.

 

Inaddition to gaining experience and competency through prior work experience,the Texas Board of Professional Engineers requires a minimum of fifteen hoursof continuing education annually, including at least one hour in the area ofprofessional ethics, which Mr. Savoie fulfills.  As part of his 2009 continuing educationhours, Mr. Savoie attended an internally presented eight****hours of formalized training as well as a day long publicforum relating to the definitions and disclosure guidelines contained in theUnited States Securities and Exchange Commission Title 17, Code of FederalRegulations, Modernization of Oil and Gas Reporting, Final Rule released January 14,2009 in the Federal Register.  Mr. Savoieattended an additional twenty-five hours of formalized in-house training aswell as an additional twenty two hours of formalized external training during2009 covering such topics as the SPE/WPC/AAPG/SPEE Petroleum ResourcesManagement System, reservoir engineering, geoscience and petroleum economicsevaluation methods, procedures and software and ethics for consultants.

 

Basedon his educational background, professional training and more than forty yearsof practical experience in the estimation and evaluation of petroleum reserves,Mr. Savoie has attained the professional qualifications as a ReservesEstimator and Reserves Auditor set forth in Article III of the “StandardsPertaining to the Estimating and Auditing of Oil and Gas Reserves Information”promulgated by the Society of Petroleum Engineers as of February 19, 2007.

 

RYDER SCOTT COMPANY   PETROLEUM CONSULTANTS

 

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