The views expressed on this podcast are those of the participants, not Arroyd's news.

It's a good deal, it seems to me.

Chevron is trying to get a footprint in offshore a little bit stronger than they have as right now.

It's a great way to get into that part of the market.

They're going to have a very large footprint in Guyana, right-of-ways, and it's a business

that they can grow out also.

That was Robert Yorga, executive director at the Energy Futures Division of Missy Ho Securities,

speaking about oil giant Chevron's $53 billion deal for rival Hess.

The tie-up comes in the same month that fellow US producer Exxon announced its own $60 billion

pounds on pioneer natural resources. The consequences for oil majors navigating an ever-pressured

market are the focus of this week's views room.

Welcome back to the views room, a podcast from Breaking Views, where columnists from around the

world talk about the big stories of the week. I'm your host, Jonathan Guilford, coming to you

from New York City. Amid an otherwise arid year for deals, Exxon and fellow oil driller Chevron have announced two

huge tie-ups within two weeks of each other.

With shale production maturing in the United States and long-term demand questions posed

by the rise of electric cars and regulatory clampdowns on emissions, the mergers represent

a big bet on consolidating supply.

At issue now is how others will react and whether these deals will successfully close.

Here to talk with me on the topic of Robert Siren, our energy correspondent in New York,

and Lawrence Silver-Loughlin, Breaking Views, U.S. Editor.

Rob, Lauren, welcome back to the views room.

...