Former Texas gubernatorial candidate Clayton Williams once devoted his energy to politics. Now he's devoted to the independent oil and gas firm that he founded. Clayton Williams Energy explores for oil and gas deposits primarily in Louisiana, New Mexico, and Texas and exploits those resources. The company has estimated proved reserves of 75.4 million barrels of oil equivalent, located mainly in the Permian Basin and South Texas. It has 951,000 gross undeveloped acres. It also operates gas pipeline and a small natural gas processing infrastructure in Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, and Texas and offers contract drilling services. In 2017 the company agreed to be acquired by Noble Energy for $2.7 billion.