The deal can be completed contingent on the sale of two stimulation vessels, which prevent sand from impeding the flow of oil or gas, the Justice Department said.

The companies must also sell a Louisiana dock facility and some assets related to the stimulation vessels.

"The transaction as originally proposed would combine two of only four companies that provide specialised pumping services, called stimulation services, necessary for the production of oil and gas from wells in the US Gulf of Mexico," the department said, according to a Reuters report.

The deal was worth $6.8 billion dollars, based on today's closing share price.

The companies' shareholders have approved the transaction.

Source: Upstream

More News:

• Shale gas could add 270,000 jobs by 2015
• Magnum Hunter, Stone Energy form Marcellus Shale joint agreements in West Virginia
• Rosetta to invest $590MM to expand activities in the Eagle Ford shale
• Enterprise spuds Bakken/Three Forks well in Montana
• Direct Energy takes bite of Carrot
• GOP locks Keystone into tax cut bill
• TransCanada: State of Nebraska to play major role in defining new Keystone XL pipeline route
• Petro One discovers oil at J1 Rosebank
• Shale deals drive US M&A activity -- up 135% in third quarter
• Total Canada's Joslyn project in Alberta

• More...