The U.S. oilfield services sector added more than 6,400 new jobs last month. in the latest sign that things are beginning to look up for the embattled industry. There has even been some M&A activity, too, namely Schlumberger’s offloading of its shale oil business to Liberty Oilfield Services in September. The all-stock deal saw Schlumberger take 37 percent in the larger Liberty, which will now become the second-largest hydraulic fracturing services provider in North America. Are the job additions and merger activity indicative of a trend that will save the sector? According to Fortune Business Insights, the Oilfield Services market could reach $346 billion by 2027–a CAGR of 6.6% during that time. Others, such as Liberty’s chief executive Chris Wright, are also optimistic. Commenting on the acquisition of Schlumberger’s fracking business, Wright said the challenging times offered an opportunity and that the acquisition was effectively Liberty’s way of grabbing […]