Devon Energy Corp. plans to consolidate its US personnel into a single operations group at its corporate headquarters in Oklahoma City. As a result, Devon will close its office in Houston and transfer operational responsibilities for assets in South Texas, East Texas and Louisiana to Oklahoma City.

According to a recent report from IHS, although it is still premature to conclude that the Utica/Point Pleasant Shale play in Ohio and western Pennsylvania will be as productive as the Eagle Ford Shale in Texas, the Utica is in many ways analogous to the Eagle Ford and early drilling results are encouraging.

Energy XXI has appointed Antonio De Pinho to senior vice president of joint ventures and technology effective Sept. 4, 2012.

Voyager Oil & Gas Inc. and Emerald Oil Inc. have entered into a securities purchase agreement whereby Voyager will acquire Emerald Oil to create a US-based oil and gas company that will focus on select oil and gas basins in the Rocky Mountain region.

Continental Resources, Inc. today announced a transition in senior management. Jeff Hume, president and chief operating officer, will assume the role of vice chairman of strategic growth initiatives, and Rick Bott will succeed Hume as president and chief operating officer.  The leadership changes will be effective June 4.

The value of deals announced in the global oil and gas industry reached $33 billion during the first quarter of 2012, according to Eoin Coyne of London-based Evaluate Energy, which tracks worldwide mergers and acquisitions.

Recent production data for Utica Shale wells drilled by Chesapeake Energy may be economic, but the lower than expected condensate/oil mix in the eastern Ohio wells may shift the industry focus westward, noted Global Hunter Securities.