Merger and acquisition activity in the U.S. oil and gas industry is close to reaching the record level of dealmaking booked last year and possibly exceeding it. The latest insight into M&A in oil and gas comes from Rystad Energy, as quoted by Reuters, which said that dealmaking has hit $100 billion, and there's another $46 billion up for grabs. Last year's M&A total hit an all-time high of $155 billion. The figures support a view that the U.S. oil and gas space remains a very busy one with regard to consolidation after earlier this year,…