It may sound like a law firm, but Belden & Blake is in fact an energy company that obeys the laws of supply and demand in the oil and gas market. It acquires properties, explores for and develops oil and gas reserves, and gathers and markets natural gas in the Appalachian and Michigan basins. In 2010 Belden & Blake reported interests in 1,216 gross wells and leases on more than 1.1 million gross acres, and it owned and operated 1,600 miles of gas gathering lines. That year the company reported estimated proved reserves of 202.4 billion cu. ft. of gas equivalent. Belden & Blake is controlled by Capital C Energy Operations, itself controlled by EnerVest Ltd.