Devon Energy's consolidation of jobs at its towering Oklahoma City headquarters has "no impact" on employment in the Barnett Shale, a  company spokesman says. Devon on Thursday announced it would close its Houston office and relocate exploration and development personnel from South Texas, East Texas and Louisiana. The company is the largest producer in the Barnett Shale and employs more than 400 people in the field, centered around its Bridgeport processing plant and offices.
 

The move affects about 500 Houston workers. "Consolidating our U.S. operations will improve our ability to quickly shift the focus of our workforce between project areas as economic conditions dictate," Dave Hager, Devon's executive vice president of exploration and production, said in the company's announcement. "In addition, this move will improve the sharing of best practices and enhance overall operational efficiency."