Houston-based gas Crestwood Midstream Partners is relying on outside PR counsel through its acquisition of Inergy of Kansas City to create a $7B gas pipeline operator.

Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher is advising Crestwood and providing media relations support on the cash and stock deal, which is plowing ahead after a May announcement.

The combination is aimed to create a large midstream operation – in energy industry parlance, midstream is the transportation, storage and marketing and oil and gas – service large reserves like the Marcellus and Eagle Ford Shales.

The companies this week announced the composition of the boards of directors for the combined operations.