(WO) – Lime Rock Partners has closed an equity commitment to Athena Energy Partners, a Houston-based private company focused on the acquisition and development of oil and gas assets in South Texas.
Athena is led by Stephen Goldfarb, former chief financial officer of Ensign Natural Resources, along with other former Ensign executives, including Garner Haydell, Jennifer Smith and Matt Geiser. Ensign was a longtime Eagle Ford producer whose assets were sold to Marathon Oil in late 2022.
The newly backed company plans to pursue acquisitions and development opportunities primarily in the Eagle Ford shale, leveraging the management team’s operating experience and long-standing relationships in the basin. Athena said its strategy centers on optimizing existing assets and pursuing disciplined growth in mature Gulf Coast plays.
Lime Rock said the investment reflects continued confidence in select U.S. shale basins, particularly the Eagle Ford, where consolidation, operational efficiencies and experienced management teams continue to drive opportunities despite broader industry maturation.
The transaction adds to ongoing private equity activity in South Texas, as investors seek scalable platforms capable of generating risk-adjusted returns in established shale plays.
