Oct 30 (Reuters) - Marathon Oil Corp ( MRO ), which is

being acquired by larger rival ConocoPhillips ( COP ), this week

said it would lay off more than 500 workers in Texas, according

to a filing with the Texas Workforce Commission.

The $22.5 billion deal, announced in May, received approval

from Marathon Oil ( MRO ) shareholders but is awaiting regulatory

clearance from the Federal Trade Commission.

The Houston-based oil and gas producer had 1,681 full-time

employees at the end of 2023, according to an annual filing. A

spokesperson for Marathon Oil ( MRO ) did not immediately respond to a

request for comment.

Marathon anticipates its merger with ConocoPhillips ( COP ) to close

in the fourth quarter of 2024, it said in its layoff notice.

The company expects over 500 employees at its Houston office

to likely experience employment loss during the 12-month period

following the closing of the merger, it said in the filing.