Norwalk, Conn.-based construction and energy infrastructure company EMCOR Group Inc. (NYSE: EME) has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire RepconStrickland Inc., a provider of recurring turnaround and specialty services to the North American refinery and petrochemical markets.

Natural Resource Partners LP has entered the Bakken Shale/Three Forks play with an agreement to purchase non-operated working interests in producing oil and gas properties in the Williston Basin of North Dakota and Montana from Abraxas Petroleum Corp.  for approximately $35.3 million in cash.

On June 14, 2013, GeoMet Inc. closed the previously announced sale of all of its coal bed methane properties located in the state of Alabama.

Crew Energy Inc. has exercised the option to purchase the balance of Terra Energy Corp.’s Montney assets in northeast British Columbia for $36 million.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH WILLIAM E. MACAULAY AND JOHN A. HILL OF FIRST RESERVE

Ernst & Young released its bi-annual oil and gas Global Capital Confidence Barometer on May 7. It highlights that nearly half (44%) of the 152 oil and gas company executives surveyed believe the global economic situation is improving, up from 27% in October 2012.

As production from some North American shale plays begins to mature and wells reach steady, predictable declines, E&P companies are increasingly evaluating the opportunities for funding growth offered by the upstream Master Limited Partnership (MLP) model.

Given the significant expansion of oil and gas companies globally, the need for industry players to align and coordinate local operations with corporate strategy has never been greater.

PLS reports that from April 17 to May 16, 2013, the pace of US oil and gas deal activity is returning to normal with 45 deals for $2.1 billion while Canada activity remains sluggish with 10 deals for $240 million.