Priced out of the Permian
M&A has slowed in the US' hottest shale basin as investors look elsewhere for cheaper growth opportunities
Permania in the mergers and acquisitions market is finally cooling off. The world's fastest growing oilfield was also the hottest market for mergers and acquisitions, racking up more than 200 deals worth around $50bn over the past two years as companies jockeyed for prime positions in the play. The frenzy of M&A deals has reshaped the landscape in the Permian. ExxonMobil spent close to $6bn buying the Bass family's drilling rights to cement its position as one of the play's largest acreage holders in the single biggest Permian shale deal. But the surge in deals was fuelled mostly by smaller shale-focused independents like Concho Resources, QEP and others. Some were looking for a foothold
Also in this section
28 April 2026
Oil traders warning of $200/bl oil are wrong, and the market should be wary of proclamations that the impact of the oil shortage has only begun to be felt and a that a ‘harsh adjustment’ is coming—even for industrialised nations
28 April 2026
Restoring supply from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Iraq involves complexities far beyond simply adjusting operational controls
28 April 2026
Datacentres will guzzle power at a ferocious rate, but the impact on wider energy markets will be far more complex than previously thought
28 April 2026
The key energy player faces balancing regional routes, political complexities, and creating a clear strategic vision for energy security
