text: Noble Energy Expands Into Rockies and Mid-Continent With \$3.4 &lt;b&gt;...&lt;/b&gt; HOUSTON, Dec. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Noble Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NBL) and Patina Oil  amp; Gas Corporation (NYSE:POG) today announced that their boards of directors approved Noble Energy #39;s strategic acquisition 