Capital

Following an overall paltry return for Lower 48 oil and gas property sales in 2019, the dealmaking market may be looking for a repeat, as well-financed operators prowl for quality assets at bargain prices, according to energy data specialist Enverus.

Chevron Corp. is raising capital spending in the Permian Basin by around 11% for the coming year, but Appalachia is to see budget cutbacks on the continued slump in natural gas prices.

Encana Corp.’s well costs in the Anadarko Basin have fallen by about $1 million since it completed the Newfield Exploration Co. merger in February, with a “line of sight to significantly more savings” in the months ahead, the Calgary-based independent said Tuesday.

Chris Rutherford has been appointed as a managing director at Macquarie Capital to cover upstream oil and gas companies. The former UBS managing director in the firm’s Natural Resources Group will be based in Houston and lead upstream coverage of mergers and acquisitions, as well as debt and equity capital offerings. Macquarie Energy is the No. 2 physical natural gas marketer in North America, according to NGI’s quarterly compilation of the top gas marketers. During 3Q2018, Macquarie’s physical gas transactions in the United States and Canada totaled 12.71 Bcf/d, a 32% increase year/year.

Calgary-based Enbridge Inc., following a route by other North American pipeline operators, on Tuesday agreed to acquire the remaining stakes in three North American units for about $7 billion, bringing all of its natural gas and liquids assets under one umbrella.

Houston-based super independent Noble Energy Inc. is cutting back on planned well completions in the Permian Basin and shifting some capital to adjust for a lack of takeaway capacity.

Rex Energy Corp. plans to cut its capital expenditures significantly this year as it continues to explore options for repairing its balance sheet.

An evolving strategic focus on capital discipline by U.S. onshore exploration and production (E&P) companies that began quietly within the last couple of years is expected to become far more widespread in 2018, with nearly half of a sampled group of independent producers — mostly in the Permian Basin — generating free cash flow (FCF) in 2018, according to BTU Analytics.

The onshore exploration and production (E&P) industry is tightening up, tilting toward more capital discipline and free cash flow (FCF), which could give investors pause in how they value the group, according to an analysis by Raymond James & Associates.