As operators scour the Permian Basin for M&A opportunities, they’re keeping an eye on a tepid divestiture market. Family-owned oil companies also stand out among the pack of private inventory holders remaining in the Permian, according to Enverus Intelligence Research.
Vital Energy anticipates making 42 double-long, horseshoe-shaped wells where straight lines would have made 84 wells. The estimated savings: $140 million.
Kinetik Holdings will buy Durango Permian infrastructure for $765 million, excluding contingency payments, and sell its interests in the Gulf Coast Express pipeline to AcrLight Capital Partners for $540 million.
Permian Resources also reported its integration of Earthstone Energy’s assets is ahead of schedule and raised expected annual synergies from the deal.
Exxon Mobil plans to drill longer, more capital efficient wells in the Midland Basin after a major boost from the $60 billion Pioneer Natural Resources acquisition. Data shows that Exxon is a leading operator drilling 4-mile laterals in the Permian’s Delaware Basin.
Occidental Petroleum is exploring a sale of assets in the Barilla Draw region of Texas, which is located within the Delaware portion of the Permian Basin.
The basin is deeper, gassier, more geologically complex and more remote than the Midland Basin to the east. But the Delaware is too sweet of a prize to pass up for many of the nation’s top oil and gas producers.
Marathon Oil, Occidental, Continental Resources and others are reaching under the Permian’s popular benches for new drilling locations. Analysts think there are areas of the basin where the Permian’s deeper zones can compete for capital.
Delaware-focused E&P Matador Resources is growing oil production, expanding midstream capacity, keeping debt low and hunting for M&A opportunities.
Oil and gas dealmaking continued at a high clip in the first quarter, especially in the Permian Basin. But a thinning list of potential takeout targets, and an invigorated Federal Trade Commission, are chilling the red-hot M&A market.