Reese Energy Consulting today has curated a couple of news nuggets worthy of mention to put an exclamation point on your Thursday. We start with the announced retirement of EOG Resources President Billy Helms, who will depart his position May 31 after only three years, cutting his physical tether to the company that’s defined 40-year career. ...

The OGs of early-day Chesapeake Energy are no doubt excited by the news the company will now become the nation’s largest natural gas producer. In a $7.4 billion all-stock deal guided by CEO chess master Nick Dell’Osso, CHK gets the keys to Southwestern Energy, the title of U.S. Gas King, and a combined valuation of nearly $17 billion. ...