The Permian Basin is one of the most important oil and gas basins in the world, located in western Texas and southeastern New Mexico in the United States. Oil drilling and production in the Permian Basin began in the early 1920s. The first significant discovery in the region was made in 1923 in the Westbrook field in Mitchell County, Texas. This discovery led to a boom in oil exploration and production in the area. By the 1930s, the Permian Basin had become one of the major oil-producing regions in the United States, and it continued to grow in importance throughout the 20th century.

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.

BP acquired renewable natural gas (RNG) provider Archaea Energy Inc. for $4.1 billion on December 28, marking a milestone in the growth of BP’s strategic bioenergy business. The acquisition, announced in October, was finalized following BP’s completion of regulatory requirements and Archaea obtaining shareholder approval.

On January 3, Targa Resources Corp asserted that it is purchasing the remaining stake for $1.05 billion in cash from BlackstoneInc's energy unit in its Grand Prix NGL Pipeline that it does not already own. Targa, which is going to acquire a 25% stake from Blackstone Energy Partners, purchased 75% interest in the pipeline last year when it repurchased interests in its development company joint ventures from investment firm Stonepeak Partners LP for almost $925 million. The Stonepeak agreement also included 100% interest in its Train 6 fractionator in Mont Belvieu, Texas, and a 25% equity interest in the Gulf Coast Express Pipeline. Grand Prix has the capacity to transfer up to 1 MMbbl/d of NGL to the NGL market hub at Mont Belvieu. The same day Targa maintained the price of the Blackstone Energy Partners agreement, which is anticipated closing in the first quarter of 2023, representing roughly 8.75 times Grand Prix's valued 2023 adjusted EBITDA multiple.

On January 3, U.S. natural gas producer Rockcliff Energy from private equity firm Quantum Energy Partners was set to be sold to a unit of Tokyo Gas Co. Ltd. for roughly $4.6 billion, including debt. The all-cash agreement with Houston-based TG Natural Resources, which is 70% possessed by the Japanese energy firm, is decided to be claimed this month, according to anonymous resources, as the discussions were requested to be confidential. Castleton Commodities International (CCI) owns the rest of TG Natural Resources.

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 December 9, Crescent Point Energy Corp. announced a purchase and sale agreement to develop its core Kaybob Duvernay assets, which will bolt on production, the midstream infrastructure and technical data. With the deal, the company has committed more than US $1 billion to the play. Crescent Point, the Alberta-based company, is purchasing almost 65,000 net acres from Paramount Resources Ltd. for CA $375 (US $274 million) cash. The assets estimate more than 4,000 boe/d, 50% liquids, and include a gas plant, associated pipelines, water infrastructure, and seismic data. The acquired asset’s production consists of 35% condensate, 15% NGL, and 50% shale gas.

A $3.0 billion cash definitive agreement to purchase the Eagle Ford assets of Ensign Natural Resources has been concluded by Marathon Oil Corporation on November 2.

Despite the circulating rumors concerning Colgate’s attempt to launch an IPO, on May 19 the company decided to combine with Centennial Resource Development Inc. This merger of equals is estimated at $7 billion and will found the biggest pure-play E&P company in the Delaware Basin of the Permian. The transformative combination essentially enlarges companies’ potential and hastens the growth across all financial and operating metrics. According to Centennial CEO Sean Smith, the combined company is anticipated to furnish shareholders with quickened capital return program due to a fixed dividend coupled with a share repurchase plan. Due to a recent report, the merger would increase production 7%, to 145,000 boe/d by the fourth quarter would further ratchet up next year. By third-quarter 2023, the company predicted 160,000 boe/d based on a drilling program of 140 wells per year. Colgate Energy was reported to be getting an IPO last December that sources said would value the company at approximately $4 billion. The combined company will have over 15-years of drilling inventory, assuming its current drilling pace, the companies will produce over $1 billion of free cash flow in 2023 at current strip prices.

The two Bakken shale producers announced in a joint statement on March 7 that they had reached an agreement to unite in a $6 billion "merger of equals." Combining these two companies will create a leading Williston Basin position with assets covering approximately 972,000 net acres, production of 167,800 boe/d, and an enhanced free cash flow generation that will generate capital returns to shareholders. A historic collapse in oil prices prompted both Whiting and Oasis oil companies to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2020. Thus, the merger can be viewed as a preventive measure to avoid going out of business.

Crescent Energy closed the acquisition of Uinta Basin assets in Utah that were previously owned by EP Energy for $690 million, a few hundred million dollars below the original price. The accretive deal increases Crescent's Rockies position and adds significant cash flow and a portfolio of high-quality oil-weighted undeveloped sites. In addition to its acquired Uinta assets, Crescent's pro forma year-end 2021 provided reserves totaled 598 million boe, of which 83% was developed, 55% was liquid, and its provided PV-10 was $6.2 billion.

Comstock Resources decided to go through with asset divestment, selling its Bakken Shale actives for $150M to Northern Oil and Gas. The proceeds from these sales will be reinvested by Comstock Resources Inc. into the Haynesville Shale, at which point the company may acquire additional leasehold and fund drilling activities starting in 2022. Meanwhile, Northern clearly gunning for the pack leading position in the Texas shale play, but whether they succeed or not is remains to be seen.

Pioneer Natural resources is looking to divest properties in the lone star state. According to Rextag, Pioneer’s Delaware assets on sale have a trailing 12 month production of just over 22 MBOE against a total Permian Basin production of almost 212 MBOE. (The sale, if it happens, will effectively lead to a 10% decrease of Pioneer’s asset base in terms of the previous year's production.)