Oil is riding the high wave into 2024 due to U.S. industry consolidation

By the end of 2027, it is anticipated that the oilfield will produce 7 million barrels per day (bpd).

In 2023, the oil and gas sector went on a $250 billion buying binge, riding the high stock prices of the corporations to grab cheaper reserves and get ready for the next big shakeup in an industry that will probably see more consolidation. Acquirers' excitement has been heightened by a spike in oil demand as global economies recovered from the pandemic slump. In 2023, Occidental Petroleum (OXY.N), Chevron Corp (CVX.N), and Exxon Mobil (XOM.N) made purchases totaling $135 billion. In the past two years, ConocoPhillips (COP.N) has closed two significant transactions. The largest shale oil field in the United States, the Permian Basin located in west Texas and New Mexico, is the main prize in this dealmaking. Right now, the four businesses are in a position to control roughly 58% of the region's future production.

By the end of 2027, it is anticipated that the oilfield will produce 7 million barrels per day (bpd). Each intends to pump at least 1 million bpd from it. And there will soon be additional deals. Seventy-five percent of energy executives surveyed by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas in December anticipated that new oil transactions with a minimum value of $50 billion would be announced over the following two years. The rise in the number of larger oil producers who prioritize maintaining the viability of their fossil fuel operations might potentially cause the companies to face more pressure from governments that are pushing for a transition to cleaner energy sources.