Exhibit 10.27 (b)

NONCOMPETE AGREEMENT

This Agreement is made as of October 30, 2000 by and between Equitable Resources, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation (Equitable Resources, Inc. and its majority-owned subsidiaries are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Company”), and Philip P. Conti (the “Employee”).

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, in order to protect the business and goodwill of the Company, the Company desires to obtain certain non-competition covenants from the Employee and the Employee desires to agree to such covenants in exchange for the Company’s agreement to pay certain severance benefits in the event that the Employee’s employment with the Company is terminated in certain events; and

WHEREAS, the Employee is willing to enter into this Agreement, which contains, among other things, specific non-competition agreements, in consideration of the simultaneous execution by the Company and the Employee of a Change of Control Agreement (the “Change of Control Agreement”), which enhances in certain respects the benefits that the Company will pay to the Employee if the Employee’s employment with the Company is terminated in certain events following a change of control of the Company.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1.             If the employment of the Employee with the Company is terminated by the Company for any reason other than Cause (as defined below) or if the Employee terminates his or her employment with the Company for Good Reason (as defined below), the Company shall pay the Employee, from the date of termination, in addition to any payments to which the Employee is entitled under the Company’s severance pay plan, twenty-four (24) months of base salary at the Employee’s annual base salary level in effect at the time of such termination or immediately prior to the salary reduction that serves as the basis for termination for Good Reason.  Employee will also be entitled to twenty-four (24) months of health benefits continuation and outplacement assistance for a period not to exceed twelve (12) months.  Such base salary amount shall be paid by the Company to the Employee in one lump sum payable within thirty (30) days after the Employee’s termination or resignation hereunder.  Solely for purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall mean (i) a conviction of a felony, a crime of moral turpitude or fraud, (ii) the Employee’s willful and continuous engagement in conduct which is demonstrably and materially injurious to the Company, or (iii) the willful and continued refusal by the Employee to perform the duties of his or her position in a reasonable manner for thirty (30) days after written notice is given to the Employee by the Company specifying in reasonable detail the nature of the deficiency in the Employee’s performance.  Solely for purposes of this Agreement, termination for “Good Reason” shall mean termination of employment by the Employee within ninety (90) days after (i) being demoted, or (ii) being given notice of a reduction in his or her annual base salary (other than a reduction of not more than 10% applicable to all senior officers of the Company).