Permian on the rebound
Extreme market volatility is subsiding, tempting operators to acquire promising assets and lift production
The Permian basin is rallying after a sluggish year. Oil production is rising and the basin is seeing a sizeable chunk of the shale patch consolidation that has been playing out across the industry over the past year. The recovery is being tempered somewhat by increased discipline among producers and by uncertainty over the future of drilling on federal land. But the fact that production is picking up despite these constraints illustrates the basin’s resilience. The Permian dominates US domestic oil production. And given this status, it is unsurprising that recent M&A—though not all—has been concentrated on the basin. Leading the way, Texas-based independent Pioneer Natural Resources com
Also in this section
24 January 2025
Domestic companies in Nigeria and other African jurisdictions are buying assets from existing majors they view as more likely to deliver production upside under their stewardship
23 January 2025
The end of transit, though widely anticipated, leaves Europe paying a third more for gas than a year ago and greatly exposed to supply shocks
23 January 2025
The country’s government and E&P companies are leaving no stone unturned in their quest to increase domestic crude output as BP–ONGC tie-up leads the way
22 January 2025
The return of Donald Trump gives further evidence of ‘big oil’ as an investable asset, with the only question being whether anyone is really surprised
