Jun. 17, 2026Marubeni Corporation
Marubeni Corporation (hereinafter, “Marubeni”) has acquired all membership interests in EagleRidge Energy II LLC (hereinafter, “EagleRidge”), a natural gas development and production company with interests in the Barnett Shale in Texas, United States, thereby acquiring the company as a wholly owned subsidiary (hereinafter, the “Transaction”).
EagleRidge is Marubeni’s partner and operator for its natural gas interests in the United States. The Barnett Shale, where EagleRidge operates, is recognized as one of the major shale gas production basins in the country. Characterized by a rich history of extensive well drilling and a robust production track record, the Barnett Shale is anticipated to continue delivering stable production. Driven by the rapid expansion of generative AI, the development of power-intensive data centers is accelerating. This trend is expected to drive higher energy consumption, which in turn is likely to increase demand for natural gas. Positioned near Dallas, one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States, the Barnett Shale is strategically located to meet both regional demands within Texas and demand from LNG export terminals along the Gulf of Mexico.
Following the Transaction, Marubeni will have a production capacity in the Barnett Shale of approximately 170 MMcfe* per day (natural gas and natural gas liquids combined), equivalent to approximately 1.3 million tons of LNG annually, or the capacity of about 19 LNG carriers. Going forward, Marubeni will leverage EagleRidge’s operational expertise to strengthen its gas production.
Under its Mid-Term Management Strategy GC2027, Marubeni has defined its capital allocation and investment strategy for growth and plans to allocate 200 billion yen to resource investments over the three-year period through FY2027, of which this Transaction is a part. In resource investments, Marubeni aims to expand its existing assets—centered on natural gas, which plays a key role in the energy transition—thereby enhancing cost competitiveness while increasing the volume of resources handled. Through this Transaction, Marubeni will secure U.S. natural gas resources, for which solid demand is expected to continue.
Building a North America-centric natural gas value chain is one of Marubeni’s core strategies. In the United States, Marubeni operates a natural gas trading business through its subsidiary MIECO LLC (hereinafter, “MIECO”). In addition, Marubeni is strengthening its business platforms from upstream to downstream through participation in LNG projects around the world, including Equatorial Guinea, Peru, and Papua New Guinea, as well as through its global LNG trading operations. Going forward, Marubeni will further enhance the value of its natural gas chain by integrating its upstream investments in the United States with MIECO’s trading functions and its global LNG operations.
*MMcfe: Abbreviation for “million cubic feet equivalent.” A unit used to express natural gas and natural gas liquids in terms of volume; 1 MMcfe is equivalent to 1 million cubic feet of natural gas.
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