Saudi Arabia’s energy Minister Khalid al-Falih speaks at an oil-and-gas conference in Basra, Iraq, on Dec. 4. Saudi Arabia is hunting for an energy deal in American shale country, as economic upheaval pushes it to seek its first international oil-and-gas production investments. Saudi Arabian Oil Co., known as Aramco, has had initial conversations about taking a stake in Tellurian Inc., a Houston -based liquefied natural-gas developer, or agreeing to buy some of its fuel in the future, people familiar with the matter said. Separately, it has inquired about acquiring assets in two giant U.S. oil-and-gas basins, the Permian and Eagle Ford, the people said. The talks haven’t reached an advanced stage, and the Saudis have talked to other, undisclosed U.S. companies about natural-gas export deals, the people said. A spokesperson for Tellurian said: “We cannot comment on commercial dealings.” Aramco declined to comment. Any effort to acquire American oil-and-gas […]