Ameratex Energy. Oil and gas companies have done a lot of selling this year. There isn't a one-size-fits-all explanation for the constantly changing playing field. Companies are shedding assets for a variety of reasons. Some want to give cash back to shareholders. Others seek more focused portfolios, or they need money to pay off debt or legal liabilities. Analysts say oil and gas companies can make money by taking cheap assets and building them into valuable production vehicles, then selling them off and using some of the money for new exploration.