U.S. oilfield activity has begun to tick higher from the historic lows last spring, but even stronger oil and natural gas prices are not enough to generate sustainable returns, RPC Inc. CEO Richard A. Hubbell said Wednesday. During the third quarter conference call, Hubbell said conditions have improved since bottoming in 2Q2020, but they are…
M&A
Articles from M&A
Lower 48 E&P Consolidation Continues as Contango, Mid-Con Agree to Merge
One day after two giant Canadian producers announced a tie-up and less than a week after other mega mergers were announced, Houston-based Contango Oil & Gas Co. agreed to expand its holdings in the Lower 48 in an all-stock merger with Mid-Con Energy Partners LP. Contango works the shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico…
Kinder Turns 3Q Profit, Notes Positive Momentum for Natural Gas
Kinder Morgan Inc. moved back to the positive side of the ledger during the third quarter, but management for the midstream giant remains keenly aware of the lingering uncertainties facing the oil and gas industry. “We’re not on the other side of the downturn of the U.S. energy industry,” CEO Steven Keen said Wednesday during…
TC Paying $1.5B to Buy Out Shares in Pipeline MLP
TC Energy Corp. on Monday announced a share swap offer, valued at $1.48 billion, to take over all 76% of the stock of affiliate TC PipeLines LP that is widely held on public financial markets. The deal would transfer to TC all the master limited partnership (MLP) interests, ranging from 46-100%, in eight pipeline systems…
M&A Among U.S. Natural Gas Operators Looks Poised to Climb on Optimism for Pricing, Says Enverus
Chevron Corp.’s $13 billion takeover of Noble Energy Inc., completed on Monday, was the largest US. upstream deal during a sluggish third quarter, according to Enverus. The oil and gas analytics company in its summary of 3Q2020 merger and acquisition (M&A) activity outlined the highs and lows for what was another volatile three-month period. “While…
Caterpillar Transforming Pressure Pumping Business with Takeover of Weir Oil, Gas Division
Caterpillar Inc., one of the world’s largest construction and mining operators, has agreed to pay $405 million to buy the Texas-based oil and gas division of Weir Group plc. Cat, as it is known, manufactures equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. The takeover of Fort Worth-based Weir Oil &…
Sumitomo Exits Marcellus in Sale of Pennsylvania Assets
Japanese trading house Sumitomo Corp. has exited the Marcellus Shale, announcing Monday that it had closed the sale of its interests in properties in western Pennsylvania to an undisclosed buyer. Sumitomo, which entered the play in September 2010, did not disclose how much it earned for its 30% working interest in assets operated by PennEnergy…
Andros Eyeing Domestic Upstream, Downstream Opportunities with $250M Fund
Houston-based Andros Capital Partners said Tuesday it has completed an inaugural $250 million fund to target investments across the energy sector. The private equity firm, founded earlier this year by managing partner Phillip A. Gayle Jr., is considering “private equity investments, credit opportunities and direct asset-level investments” for the Andros Energy Capital LP fund. Middle-market…
Covenant, Stuart Combine Lower 48 Well Flowback, Pressure Control Businesses
Houston-based Covenant Testing Technologies LLC said Tuesday it is combining with Stuart Pressure Control to provide well flow and pressure control for operators across the Lower 48. The tie-up is designed to expand services for exploration and production companies in the Permian and Denver-Julesburg basins, as well as the Eagle Ford and Haynesville shales. “In…
Oxy Looks to Build Cash Flow, with Low Growth Following $8.4B Loss
Houston-based Occidental Petroleum Corp. is throttling back from growth to ensure it can build cash flow to pay down some big debt maturities due in 2021, CEO Vicki Hollub said Tuesday. The company, better known as Oxy, has set spending priorities on maintenance, debt reduction and eventually a sustainable dividend before expanding, Hollub said during…