Globally: $45 Billion in Merger/Acquisition O &G Deals in 1Q11

Link here. From PennEnergy:

Globally, merger and acquisition deals in the upstream oil and gas sector reached US$45 billion in the first quarter of 2011, and unconventional resources, specifically shale resources, are still leading the way, according to data from Evaluate Energy.

And the driving force? Shale.

The $45 billion in 1Q11 is the higher than all but three quarters over the past three years according to the article.  The article specifically singles out the Bakken and the Eagle Ford -- and, remember, folks, PennEnergy looked at this from a global point of view, and despite all the activity in the Middle East, Indonesia, Alaska, Russia, North  Sea, only two geographic areas were mentioned: the Bakken and the Eagle Ford.