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The Marcellus and Utica shales aren’t drawing near the attention they have been, according to a review of 4Q2012 mergers and transactions (M&A) in the United States by PwC US.

ExxonMobil Corp. has increased its hold in the Bakken Shale to nearly 600,000 net acres after agreeing to acquire Denbury Resources Inc.’s entire portfolio in the play, 196,000 net acres. The North Dakota and Montana properties had average production in the first six months of this year of about 15,400 boe/d, 88% weighted to oil and liquids.

Chesapeake Energy Corp. has been downgraded again by Fitch Ratings, and on Monday two proxy services recommended against reelecting two directors at the annual meeting in June.

As operators search for water treatment options in shale plays, they are hearing some crazy pitches, according to Rick McCurdy, senior engineering adviser for Chesapeake Energy Corp.

National Fuel Gas Co.’s Seneca Resources Corp. more than doubled fiscal fourth quarter production from its activities in Appalachia. This contributed to better Seneca results and for National Fuel overall during the quarter and fiscal year.

MarkWest Energy Partners LP and MarkWest Liberty Midstream & Resources LLC have announced an acquisition as well as an infrastructure development deal to serve EQT Corp. and other producers in Appalachia.

Regency Energy Partners LP plans to acquire Zephyr Gas Services, a field services company based in Houston, for $185 million, the company said last week. Additionally, the second quarter the partnership reported a net loss due to the effect of special items.

Increasing activity in western Colorado’s Piceance Basin has moved DCP Midstream Partners LP to invest $150 million to expand gathering operations in the region. Additionally, affiliated company DCP Midstream LLC plans to “significantly” expand gathering and processing in northeast Colorado, including capacity additions to the Mewbourne and Lucerne processing plants, both located in Weld County.