PDC Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: PDCE) priced a public offering of about 3.5 million common shares for about $179 million in gross proceeds, the company said March 18.

The underwriters, Goldman Sachs & Co. (NYSE: GS) and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, were given a monthlong option to purchase 522,000 additional shares to cover overallotments.

The offer is scheduled to close March 23.

PDC Energy Inc. produces and develops domestic oil, NGL and natural gas.