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International upstream sector set for deals worth $150 bln over rest of 2024, report says

The international upstream industry could see dealmaking worth another $150 billion throughout the remainder of the year, with focus moving to shale plays in U.S. other than the Permian Basin, experts at Rystad Energy stated in a report.

M&A activity in the global upstream industry has currently crossed the $64 billion mark this year, most of it focused around the U.S. shale spot.

WHY ITS IMPORTANT

M&A activity in the first-quarter in North America was nearly $54 billion, or 83%, of the around the world total and the region is expected to be the driving force for debt consolidation for the remainder of the year, the report said.

THE CONTEXT

The Permian Basin, which spans across western Texas and southeastern New Mexico, has actually been the focus for many deals in the year, with companies contending to obtain assets located in the patch.

Other shale plays in the U.S. are also set to attract significant investments, with about $41 billion worth of non-Permian chances on the market, according to the report, like the potential sale of Exxon Mobil's Bakken portfolio in North Dakota.

BY THE NUMBERS

Worldwide, dealmaking in the sector increased 145%. year-over-year (y-o-y) in the first-quarter to $64 billion, and. was the greatest since 2019, per the report.

Outside the U.S., dealmaking remained strong in the first. quarter, with $10.5 billion altering hands, a 5% y-o-y increase. The need for gas-producing resources represented about 66% of. total oil and gas producing assets bought and sold.

SECRET QUOTES

... with hunger still strong, deal-hungry players are. looking outside the