Exxon deal puts spotlight on M&A targets but heightened scrutiny a dampener

Exxon Mobil's mega $60 billion deal for shale rival Pioneer Natural Resources could be a catalyst that will drive further consolidation in the U.S. oil and gas industry, analysts said, as they zeroed in on a handful of likely targets. The Permian Basin, the top U.S. oilfield known for its low cost of extraction, is seeing a consolidation with more than $26 billion worth of deals this year before the Exxon announcement, as per Rystad Energy data.