Since he had to object to an Ohio Department of Natural Resources plan that would have allowed natural gas companies to drill into his coal seams in 2012, Robert E. Murray has been battling to keep coal competitive with the alternative fuel amid increased environmental scrutiny. Murray, chairman, president and CEO of Murray Energy Corp., believes he scored somewhat of a victory after Aubrey McClendon's Oklahoma City-based natural gas firm, American Energy Partners, agreed to change the name of its Upper Ohio Valley operating division to Ascent Resources-Utica.