Last month’s announcement that Devon Energy and Coterra Energy are merging to create a $58-billion giant is the latest mega-deal in the U.S. shale patch, signaling smaller public companies are seeking multi-basin, multi-year increases in drilling opportunities. In early February, Devon Energy and Coterra Energy announced a definitive agreement to merge and create a premier shale operator in an all-stock transaction, implying a combined enterprise value of about $58 billion. The deal creates a company with a significantly increased position…