The gas producing region of remote Cooper Basin may be a hotbed of merger and acquisition activity this year, according to analysts at Credit Suisse.
Consolidation among the mid-cap companies operating in the region, such as Beach Energy, Senex, New Standard Energy and Drillsearch, could come as a result of mergers between themselves or via a takeover from larger players such as Santos and Chevron.
"The Cooper Basin’s re-emergence as an incremental supply point for gas to eastern Australia increases its strategic focus," write the analysts.
They also highlight the opportunity for the exploitation of unconventional gas reserves, including from shale
