Southwestern, Chesapeake Energy close to merger, creating $17 billion U.S. natural gas company

Southwestern, Chesapeake Energy close to merger, creating $17 billion U.S. natural gas company: The acquisition would make Chesapeake’s gas production larger than its biggest rival, EQT Corp., and expand its holdings in two key gas drilling regions: the Marcellus basin in Appalachia and the Haynesville basin in Louisiana and East Texas.