Vital Energy is joining forces with Northern Oil and Gas (NOG) to acquire Point Energy Partners’ Delaware Basin assets for $1.1 billion. As part of the agreement, Vital and NOG will purchase Point Energy’s assets in an all-cash deal. Vital Energy will take 80% of the assets, while NOG will acquire 20%. Vortus Investments currently own Point Energy.

The total number of drilling rigs actively exploring and producing oil and natural gas in the United States increased to 585 for the week ending July 5, up from 581 the previous week. Despite this recent uptick, the current count still falls short of last year's 680, indicating a slowdown in drilling activities. Analysts suggest that this reduction may reflect greater efficiency among shale producers, who now require fewer rigs. Nonetheless, concerns remain about whether some producers have enough viable drilling land

Kinetik Holdings recently announced a series of transactions in the energy sector. They struck a deal to buy Durango Permian infrastructure for $765 million. At the same time, they're selling their 16% share in the Gulf Coast Express Pipeline to ArcLight Capital Partners for $540 million. The total purchase cost includes $510 million in cash paid immediately and an additional $30 million that will be paid later, depending on whether they decide to expand further.

Recently, the Permian has seen significant acquisitions: Exxon Mobil purchased Pioneer Natural Resources for about $60 billion. Diamondback Energy's $26 billion deal to acquire Endeavor Energy Resources is currently on hold due to requests from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. Occidental’s acquisition of CrownRock for $12 billion in the Midland.

Exxon Mobil recently completed its acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources, a deal worth about $60 billion. This transaction, which is the biggest in shale oil history, significantly changes the competitive landscape in the Permian Basin, a major oil field. This marks Exxon Mobil's largest deal since its $84.4 billion merger with Mobil Corp. in 1999. With this acquisition, Exxon Mobil's production in the Permian Basin will double to 1.3 million barrels of oil equivalent per day.

Continental Resources is expanding its operations in the Midland Basin, including taking over some assets that used to belong to Occidental Petroleum. The company plans to use its expertise in exploration in this area.

The Permian Basin, America's prime oil region, faced significant challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. The industry saw a drastic reduction in rigs and fracking crews and had to close some operations as oil prices plummeted, leading to widespread restructuring. Now, the Permian is making a strong comeback. Over the last three years, exploration and production companies (E&Ps) have increased their drilling activities. They're focusing on spending wisely and maximizing returns to their investors. The Permian's role is crucial. It was projected to contribute over 5.98 million barrels of oil per day in December, making up about 62% of the total oil production in the Lower 48 states, as per the EIA.

Northern Oil and Gas (NOG) has successfully completed two acquisitions, investing $162.6 million in properties within the Utica Shale and the northern Delaware Basin. In November 2023, NOG ventured into the Utica Shale by acquiring interests from a private seller, including less than one producing well and slightly over one well in development, spanning several counties in Ohio. These areas, primarily operated by Ascent Resources, focus on extracting oil and gas from the Point Pleasant Formation and the Utica Shale, with the Ohio assets being a significant part of this strategy.

Occidental Petroleum is expanding its reach in the Midland Basin and targeting deeper drilling in the Barnett area through its significant $12 billion purchase of CrownRock LP. CrownRock, a collaboration between CrownQuest Operating LLC and Lime Rock Partners, is recognized for its prime land holdings in the Permian Basin. This acquisition brings over 94,000 net acres and 1,700 undeveloped drilling spots in the Midland Basin to Occidental's portfolio.

Vital Energy, focused on the Permian Basin, plans quick debt reduction after securing $1.165 billion in deals, adding key Midland and Delaware basin inventory.

LM Energy Holdings is set to sell assets including over 130 miles of pipelines, terminals, and other facilities in Eddy and Lea, New Mexico, Delaware Basin. LM Energy Holdings LLC has concluded definitive agreements to divest subsidiaries and assets associated with its Touchdown Crude Oil Gathering System situated in Eddy and Lea counties, New Mexico. The purchasing entity and financial particulars remain undisclosed.

Viper Energy's deal, comprised of cash and equity, secures an additional 2,800 net royalty acres in the Midland Basin and 1,800 in the Delaware Basin. Viper Energy Partners LP, a Diamondback Energy Inc. subsidiary, has inked a deal to acquire mineral and royalty interests in the Permian Basin. The deal, valued at around $1 billion, is with Warwick Capital Partners and GRP Energy Capital. Viper was established by Diamondback with the purpose of owning, purchasing, and capitalizing on oil and natural gas assets in North America, specifically targeting mineral and royalty interests.

Permian Resources to buy Earthstone Energy for $4.5B, focusing on Delaware Basin. Earthstone's Midland Basin assets may be up for sale. “This is a Delaware Basin company. That’s how we think about the focus going forward,” Permian Resources co-CEO James Walter said.

Vital Energy’s deal adds 24,000 net acres and 100 gross drilling locations in Texas, growing its Permian Basin footprint to around 198,000 net acres. Vital Energy is revising its projections for oil and gas production and capital spending upward following the successful acquisition of a substantial area in the Permian Basin. The company has gained around 24,000 net acres and 100 gross drilling locations in Texas. As a result of this deal, Vital Energy is now increasing its full-year production and capital spending guidance.

Callon is set to purchase Percussion Petroleum's Delaware assets for $475 million while selling its Eagle Ford assets to Ridgemar for $655 million. In a strategic step to optimize its operations, Callon Petroleum recently made headlines by sealing two deals on May 3, totaling a staggering $1.13 billion. The company is taking confident steps to bolster its presence in the Delaware Basin while bidding farewell to its stake in the Eagle Ford Shale.

Permian Resources bolsters dominance in the Delaware Basin with strategic land acquisitions, expanding its portfolio by over 5,000 net leasehold acres and 3,000 royalty acres. In a stunning display of growth and strategic maneuvering, Permian Resources Corp., based in Midland, Texas, has made waves in the first quarter by securing a series of deals worth over $200 million in the highly sought-after Delaware Basin. This move solidifies their position as a player in the region.

Matador Resources Co. is making a big move in the oil and gas industry by acquiring Advance Energy Partners Holdings LLC, a major player in the northern Delaware Basin. The acquisition, which comes with a hefty price tag of at least $1.6 billion in cash, includes valuable assets in Lea County, N.M., and Ward County, Texas, as well as key midstream infrastructure.

On January 24, Matador spread the word that it will add oil- and gas-producing assets in Lea County, N.M., and Ward County, Texas, and some midstream infrastructure. Most of the acreage is strategically situated in Matador’s Ranger asset area in Lea County. The bolt-on includes about 18,500 net acres, 99% held by production, in the core of northern Delaware. The deal would also extend Matador’s inventory by 406 gross (203 net) drillable horizontal locations with prospective targets in the Wolfcamp, Bone Spring, and Avalon formations.

According to the company’s press release on December 19, Northern Oil and Gas Inc. (NOG) closed its announced deal with a private seller of non-operated interests in the Northern Delaware Basin for $131.6 million in cash. The acquisition was announced with a $13 million deposit in October and is the third Permian Basin acquisition since August, adding to NOG’s $400 million of Permian Basin acquisitions in 2022. The assets of 2,100 net acres are primarily operated by a private company Mewbourne Oil Co., with production anticipated to total almost 2,500 boe/d in 2023. Also, Coterra Energy Inc. and Permian Resource Corp. are operators of the assets. The assets contain high-quality, low breakeven development that is leveraged to some of NOG’s top operating partners, as our investors have come to expect.

On November 2, Cardinal Midstream Partners, an independent Dallas-based midstream energy company, concluded definitive agreements with Medallion Midstream Services to purchase Medallion’s natural gas gathering and processing business in the Delaware Basin in West Texas. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in early 2023.

Antero Midstream Corp. bought Marcellus assets of Crestwood Equity Partners LP on September 12 for $205 million in cash, signing another sale of noncore assets by the Houston-based company. Crestwood has strategically enhanced its asset portfolio through a series of A&D transactions for the previous 18 months to create a competitive scale in the Williston, Delaware, and Power River basins. The strategy covered acquisitions of Oasis Midstream Partners, Sendero Midstream, and Crestwood Permian Basin Holdings LLC (CPJV), which was a 50:50 joint venture of Crestwood and First Reserve. The assets to be bought cover 72 miles of dry gas gathering pipelines and nine compressor stations with about 700 MMcf/d of compression capacity. The current throughput on the system is approximately 200 MMcf/d, resulting in important available capacity for increase without major capital investment. The deal includes almost 425 undeveloped drilling locations and 120,000 gross dedicated acres from Antero Resources mainly in Harrison County. The acquisition is also anticipated to raise Antero Midstream’s compression capacity by 20% and gathering pipeline mileage by 15%.

The completion of the merger between Centennial Resource Development Inc. and Colgate Energy Partners II LLC happened on Sept. 1, sealing the debut of Permian Resources Corp., which is considered the largest pure-play E&P company in the Delaware Basin. Permian Resources’ idea was to combine two successful E&P companies, creating a better, stronger, and more strategically compelling company. Centennial and Colgate announced an agreement to merge in May, denying rumors that Colgate, a privately held independent Midland-based company, had been seeking an IPO. The merger estimated Colgate at about $3.9 billion and consists of 269.3 million shares of Centennial stock, $525 million of cash, and the assumption of approximately $1.4 billion of Colgate’s outstanding net debt. Permian Resources, being the combined company, has a deep inventory of “high-quality” drilling locations on around 180,000 net acres the companies anticipate will provide more than $1 billion of free cash flow in 2023 at current strip prices, in accordance with the company release on Sept. 1.

Earthstone Energy Inc., based in Texas, announced the transaction on June 28: the acquisition of Titus Oil&Gas which will raise production in the Delaware Basin by 26%. The $627 million acquisition fills the Permian Basin in Eddy and Lea counties, N.M. with 86 net locations on 7,900 net acres of leasehold, while it is not clear how much of the leasehold might be on federal acreage It is Earthstone’s seventh acquisition since 2021, a span that includes the closing of approximately $1.89 billion in acquisitions in the Permian Basin. The purchase of Titus Oil & Gas Production LLC and Titus Oil & Gas Production II LLC, privately held companies backed by NGP Energy Capital Management LLC, is estimated at $575 million in cash and it is the equivalent of $52 million in stock (3.9 million shares of its Class A common stock based on the June 24 closing price). Titus shared that its net production in June was 31,800 boe/d. The company had reserves of approximately 28.9 MMboe. Earthstone is sure its net production will increase, at the midpoint, by 20,500 boe/d (65% oil) in the fourth quarter.

Around 25,000 net acres in the Permian are being sold by Percussion Petroleum II, looking to fetch up to $1.5 billion, as some sources bet on rising oil prices to pocket more than double what it paid in 2021. The company spent $375 million plus contingent payments a year ago to buy the bulk of its assets in one of the most prolific crude-producing areas in the U.S. from Oasis PetroleumInc. The oil prices increased to triple digits and buyers wanted to gain a toehold in the basin, whereas backers of private shale companies such as Percussion use it as a chance to exit their investments with big profits. Remarkably, U.S. crude oil futures have grown about 50% to approximately $109/bbl since June 29, 2021, when Percussion closed its deal with Oasis.

On June 16 Targa Resources Corp. decided to acquire Lucid Energy Group, located in the Permian Basin, which is a part of Riverstone Holdings LLC and Goldman Sachs Asset Management. Firstly, Targa enlarged due to the recent “blot-on” acquisition of Southcross Energy in the Eagle Ford for $200 million and it will become bigger thanks to the $3.55 billion cash transaction. Targa’s financial position allowed it to utilize convenient opportunities to extend its company so it bought #Lucid using available cash and debt with an estimated pro forma year-end 2022 leverage around 3.5 times. According to Targa’s estimates, the acquisition of Lucid will increase the number of natural gas pipelines by 1,050 miles and add about 1.4 Bcf/d of cryogenic natural gas processing capacity in service or under construction located mainly in Eddy and Lea counties of New Mexico. The investment-grade producers source approximately 70% of current system volumes. According to the press release, a full-year standalone adjusted EBITDA is expected to be between $2.675 billion and $2.775 billion and reported year-end leverage ratio of about 2.7 times. Targa’s updated financial expectations assume NGL composite prices average $1.05 per gallon, crude oil prices average $100/bbl, and Waha natural gas prices average $6 per MMBtu for the remainder of 2022.

Matador Resources Co. acquires a gathering and processing system for $75 million in New Mexico’s Eddy and Lea counties from Summit Midstream Partners LP, filling up Matador’s midstream portfolio in the Permian Basin. Matador reached an agreement with a subsidiary of Summit to gain Summit’s Lane Gathering and Processing System on June 9. Nowadays, the Lane G&P System combines a 60 MMcf/d cryogenic natural gas processing plant, three compressor stations, and about 45 miles of natural gas gathering pipelines. As an investor presentation says, Matador began its initial midstream build-out in the Delaware Basin in 2015-2016. Since then the company has extended its midstream footprint in the Delaware using the San Mateo I and San Mateo II joint venture partnerships with Five Point Energy LLC

Great Western Petroleum's assets will be acquired by PDC Energy for $1.3 billion. Via this deal, PDC Energy’s position in the D-J basin increases roughly to 230,000 net acres. Denver-based Great Western has core operations in Weld and Adams counties in Colorado with 54,000 net acres and about 55,000 boe/d (42% oil / 67% liquids) of PDP. As part of the agreement, the acquisition will be financed by issuing 4 million shares of common stock to existing Great Western shareholders and by providing $543 million in cash to the company. All in all, PDC expects to increase its total production by 25% and its oil production by 35% as a result of the deal. The deal should also result in some synergies including a 15% reduction in overall cost per BOE.

In light of the conflict in Ukraine, buyout firms are currently scurrying to make cash from the U.S. crudeprices reaching their highest level since 2008. And one of the largest privately-owned US-based oilproducers may be up for sale. EnCap Investments looks to sell its portfolio company Ameredev II for over $4 billion including debt. It’s important to note, however, that both EnCap and Ameredev II alike are staying tight-lipped on the matter.

And Petro-Hunt E&P is the new sheriff in town with 21,430 net acres of leasehold in the Basin, production of which surpasses 7,000 bbl/d and 100 MMcf/d respectively. To take advantage of it, Petro-Hunt plans to begin an active development drilling program on these assets in the coming months heavily upgrading the numbers of its 775 operating oil wells and contributing to over 8,100 non-operated wells. Time will tell, however, whether or not this move will be able to deliver such results.

The future of shale is looking bright: economic recovery and a spike in travel lifted oil prices to multi-year highs, helping Continental Resources to a fourth-quarter profit that exceeded Wall Street expectations. Coming off such a high note, the company plans to increase its dividend rates by 15% to 23 cents per share!

Crestwood & Oasis Midstream merge to create a top Williston #basin player. $1.8 billion deal is expected to close during the Q1 of 2022. The transaction will result in a 21.7% ownership stake for Oasis in Crestwood common units. The remaining ownership of Oasis in Crestwood will also be of benefit to the company since it will create a diversified midstream operator with a strong balance sheet and a bullish outlook after this accretive merger.