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An affiliate of The Blackstone Group and Alta Resources LLC, whose partners include industry icon George P. Mitchell, said Tuesday their newly formed Alta Energy Partners will invest up to $1 billion in unconventional natural gas and oil properties in North America.

Atmos Energy Corp. subsidiaries Atmos Pipeline and Storage LLC (APS) and Fort Necessity Gas Storage have made agreements with Delhi Gas Storage LLC, a subsidiary of Icon NGS LLC, to allow Delhi to develop the proposed Ft. Necessity salt-dome gas storage project in Franklin Parish, LA. Delhi has been granted the right to drill a brine disposal well and undertake tests to better define the characteristics of the brine disposal formation. If Delhi completes the well and wishes to proceed with the development, it has the right to contribute the brine well test results and acquire a controlling interest in Ft. Necessity, which will own all of the project assets. APS will retain a capital position in Ft. Necessity and will share in a variable percentage of the profits. Upon its exercise of its option, Delhi will have the sole responsibility for managing Ft. Necessity and will provide funding for all future development. Delhi will have the option to purchase APS’s interest at varying stages of development at predetermined pries. Should the project be developed, Atmos Energy Marketing LLC has agreed to purchase some firm storage service.

Atmos Energy Corp. subsidiaries Atmos Pipeline and Storage LLC (APS) and Fort Necessity Gas Storage have made agreements with Delhi Gas Storage LLC, a subsidiary of Icon NGS LLC, to allow Delhi to develop the proposed Ft. Necessity salt-dome gas storage project in Franklin Parish, LA. Delhi has been granted the right to drill a brine disposal well and undertake tests to better define the characteristics of the brine disposal formation. If Delhi completes the well and wishes to proceed with the development, it has the right to contribute the brine well test results and acquire a controlling interest in Ft. Necessity, which will own all of the project assets. APS will retain a capital position in Ft. Necessity and will share in a variable percentage of the profits. Upon its exercise of its option, Delhi will have the sole responsibility for managing Ft. Necessity and will provide funding for all future development. Delhi will have the option to purchase APS’s interest at varying stages of development at predetermined pries. Should the project be developed, Atmos Energy Marketing LLC has agreed to purchase some firm storage service.

Rock icon Meat Loaf might have sang, “You’ll never drill for oil on a city street,” but that’s not stopping Chesapeake Energy Corp. from attempting to tap natural gas below the Dallas-Ft. Worth International Airport (DFW).

Kenneth Lay, once an icon of the energy industry and toast of Houston’s social community, on Thursday pleaded innocent to 11 criminal charges in connection with his actions at the failed company that he founded, Enron Corp. Lay, who, if convicted, faces charges that in total carry 175 years in prison and a fine of $5.75 million, also was charged by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).