石油和天然气行业在 2023 年进行了 2500 亿美元的收购热潮，利用公司的高股价来获得较低成本的储备，并为可能经历更多整合的行业的下一次剧变做好准备。

随着世界经济摆脱大流行病的低迷，石油需求激增，激发了收购者的热情。埃克森美孚、雪佛龙公司和西方石油公司在 2023 年的收购总额达 1,350 亿美元。康菲石油公司在过去两年完成了两笔大型交易。

此次交易的大奖是美国最大的页岩油区——德克萨斯州西部和新墨西哥州的二叠纪盆地。目前，四家公司已准备好控制该地区未来约 58% 的产量。

The oil and gas industry went on a $250 billion buying spree in 2023, taking advantage of companies' high stock prices to secure lower-cost reserves and prepare for the next upheaval in an industry likely to undergo more consolidation.

A surge in oil demand as world economies shook off the pandemic downturn has stoked acquirers' enthusiasm. Exxon Mobil, Chevron Corp. and Occidental Petroleum made acquisitions valued at a total of $135 billion in 2023. ConocoPhillips completed two big deals in the past two years.

The grand prize in this dealmaking is the largest U.S. shale play, the Permian Basin in west Texas and New Mexico. Four companies are now positioned to control about 58% of future production there.