M&A chatter lately has it that inventory is scarce, the pool of potential U.S. shale targets are drying up and consolidation is slowing. But deal making may be poised to shift from the recent epicenter of M&A—the Permian Basin—to the Bakken, Marcellus and elsewhere.
Research firm Rystad Energy said $80 billion worth of North American assets remains on the market, with the U.S. shale sector expected to be the engine driving activity. Shale assets account for 66%, slightly more than $52 billion, of total assets on the market.
Some potential deals up for grabs include Bakken-focused Grayson Mill Energy, Uinta-focused XcL Resources, Exxon Mobil's Bakken portfolio, EQT's remaining non-operated Marcellus portfolio and certain Haynesville assets from Shell and BP, Rystad said in an April 28 report.