TOKYO, April 1 (Reuters) - TG Natural Resources LLC

(TGNR), co-owned by Tokyo Gas ( TKGSF ) and Castleton Commodities

International, has bought a 70% stake in the east Texas gas

assets from Chevron ( CVX ) for $525 million, the company said on

Tuesday, as it expands its U.S. gas business.

TGNR is already the fourth biggest producer in the

Haynesville shale basin and the deal would allow to realize

synergies of over $170 million during the asset's development,

Craig Jarchow, the company's chief executive, said in a

statement.

Haynesville's location in east Texas and northwest Louisiana

is ideal for exports from liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities

and projects clustered on the nearby Gulf Coast, and has

investors' attention as U.S. President Donald Trump aims to

boost gas exports.

Tokyo Gas ( TKGSF ), Japan's largest city gas provider, said last week

it wanted to increase coordination between its LNG trading and

shale gas businesses in the U.S. and expand there, as it sees

shale gas as a major profit pillar in the coming years.