Houston-based Marathon Oil said Nov. 1 it agreed to acquire Eagle Ford assets of Ensign Natural Resources for $3 billion. The transaction, expected to close by yearend 2022, nearly doubles Marathon’s position in Eagle Ford. The acquired assets cover 130,000 net acres (99 percent operated) in Bee, DeWitt, Karnes and Live Oak counties in the core of Eagle Ford’s condensate and wet gas plays. It’s adjacent to Marathon’s existing Eagle Ford position of about 160,000 net acres. Estimated Q4 production is 67,000 boed (33 percent oil) from 700 existing wells.