Despite the Permian kicking off the year with a high volume of big-ticket transactions, upstream A&D activity has started shifting to other plays so far in 2017—particularly to natural gas shale.

For the second quarter alone, announced gas transactions in the Rockies, Haynesville and Marcellus—including EQT’s pending acquisition of Rice Energy for $8.2 billion—totaled $13.6 billion, according to Raymond James.

Still, with natural gas prices remaining stable but low, around $3, will gas assets have enough upside to overpower—or at least compete—in an oil-focused asset market?

In this edition, Hart Energy spoke with Craig Lande, managing director with RBC Richardson Barr, about his predictions for deal making for the second half of the year, specifically which shale gas play he sees generating A&D activity and how BHP Billiton’s decision to exit U.S. shale will play into that.