Willkie Advised Houston Energy on the venture. On May 16, Houston Energy, L.P. ("Houston Energy") announced that it has entered into a strategic agreement with a private equity firm for deepwater Gulf of Mexico non- operated exploration projects. Houston Energy, L.P. is a privately held independent oil and gas company exploring the Offshore Gulf of Mexico, South Louisiana, and Texas Gulf Coast. Formed in 1988, Houston Energy is an industry leader in oil and gas prospect generation, recognized as a partner of choice for many of the Gulf of Mexico's top oil and gas operators based on its top-tier track record for economically finding and developing oil and gas reserves. The transaction was handled by partners Cody Carper, Michael Piazza, Robert Jacobson, counsel Daniel Elizondo and associate Lynn Abell.