Deals

As basis differentials erode with new pipeline expansions and reversals coming online, 2017 could see capacity markets shift to increasingly shorter- or longer-term trades, according to new analysis from Skipping Stone and Capacity Center.

Dealmaking across the U.S. oil and natural gas sector, particularly in the onshore, has begun 2017 “with a green flag and a full tank of gas,” following a surge in activity during the fourth quarter, PwC researchers said Tuesday.

Operators attempting to buy into the Permian Basin now may have to go big or go home, because most of the oil- and natural gas-rich acreage in West Texas and southern New Mexico is now within the grasp of public and privately held explorers.

U.S. upstream transactions to date have nearly doubled in 2016 following a seven-year low in 2015, triggered by a surge of Permian Basin activity, oil and gas researcher 1Derrick said Tuesday.

Last year was the slowest in eight years for dealmaking in the U.S. natural gas and oil patch, and tepid sales activity continued through the first quarter, according to researchers.

Last year was the slowest in eight years for dealmaking in the U.S. natural gas and oil patch, and tepid sales activity continued through the first quarter, according to researchers.

Merger activity in the U.S. energy sector reached its lowest levels in five years during the last three months of 2015, both for values and volumes, PwC US said Thursday.

Uncertainty about the length and impact of the oil price collapse over the past 18 months has led to an atmosphere of price disparity between buyers and sellers, which contributed to low levels of merger activity in 2015, Deloitte LLP experts said this week.

After 14 months of intransigence, doing nothing will become less of an option for cash-strapped oil and natural gas operators, with some unusual dealmaking expected for mergers and asset sales.