Southwest Energy Production Company, a subsidiary of Southwest Energy Company, is engaged in exploration and production activities relating to natural gas. Founded in 1929, Southwestern Energy Company is an integrated energy company headquartered in Houston. Its activities include natural gas and crude oil exploration and production, natural gas distribution and midstream services. The company s exploration and production activities are concentrated in the states of Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Louisiana. Its distribution is handled by the company s utility subsidiary, Arkansas Western Gas Company, which provides transmission of natural gas to more than 140,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in northern Arkansas. The company s midstream services segment generates revenue through the marketing of the company s gas production, third-party natural gas and from gathering fees associated with the transportation of natural gas to market.