**Exhibit 10.11(a)**

**AMENDMENT AND JOINDER TO GAS GATHERING AGREEMENTS**

**THIS AMENDMENT AND JOINDER TO GAS GATHERINGAGREEMENTS** (this “***Amendment***”) is made as of December 18, 2006, among Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and Atlas Pipeline Operating Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership(collectively, “***Gatherer***”), Atlas America, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“***Atlas America***”), Resource Energy, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (formerly Resource Energy, Inc.,“***Resource Energy***”), Viking Resources, LLC, a Pennsylvania limited liability company (formerly Viking Resources Corporation, “***Viking Resources***”), Atlas Noble, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company(formerly Atlas Noble Corporation, “***Atlas Noble***”), Atlas Resources, LLC, a Pennsylvania limited liability company (formerly Atlas Resources, Inc., “***Atlas Resources***”), Atlas America, LLC, a Pennsylvanialimited liability company (formerly Atlas America, Inc., “***Atlas PA***”), Atlas Energy Resources, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“***Atlas Energy***”), and Atlas Energy Operating Company, LLC, aDelaware limited liability company (“***Energy Operating***”). 

**RECITALS**

A. Gatherer and Atlas America, Resource Energy and Viking Resources are parties to the Master Natural Gas Gathering Agreement dated February 2, 2000(as amended as of October 25, 2005, the “***2000 Gathering Agreement***”) and desire to amend the same in accordance with the terms hereof. 

B. Gatherer and Atlas America (as successor to Atlas Energy Group, Inc.), Atlas Resources, Atlas Noble, Resource Energy and Viking Resources are parties to the Natural Gas Gathering Agreement dated January 1,2002 (as amended as of October 25, 2005, the “***2002 Gathering Agreement***” and with the 2000 Gathering Agreement, the “***Gathering Agreements***”) and desire to amend the same in accordance with the termshereof. 

C. Atlas America has formed Atlas Energy and Energy Operating for the purpose of facilitating the initial public offering of AtlasEnergy and, pursuant to the Contribution and Assumption Agreement of even date herewith, is transferring all of the issued and outstanding member interests in Resource Energy, Viking Resources, Atlas Noble, Atlas Resources and Atlas PA to EnergyOperating, and the parties hereto wish to join Atlas Energy and Energy Operating to the Gathering Agreements. 

**NOW, THEREFORE**, inconsideration of the premises, and the mutual covenants and agreements herein set forth, and intending to be legally bound, the parties agree as follows: 

1. Joinder in the Gathering Agreements. Effective as of the date hereof, each of Atlas Energy and Energy Operating hereby joins each of the Gathering Agreements and accepts and agrees to be bound as a“Shipper” thereunder with respect to all of the terms and conditions thereof, and Gatherer hereby consents to such joinder and agrees that Atlas Energy and Energy Operating are parties to the Gathering Agreements as the Shipper thereunder.

2. Removal of Atlas America from and Joinder of Atlas PA to the 2002 Gathering Agreement.Effective as of the date hereof, Atlas America is hereby removed as a party to the 2002 Gathering Agreement and shall have no further rights or obligations thereunder. Atlas PA hereby joins the 2002 Gathering Agreement and agrees to be bound as a“Shipper” thereunder with respect to all of the terms and conditions thereof, and Gatherer hereby consents to such joinder and agrees that Atlas PA is party to the 2002 Gathering Agreement as the Shipper thereunder. 

3. Definition of “Investment Program.” The definition of “Investment Program” set forth in the 2000 Gathering Agreement ishereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows: 

“***Investment Program***” means a Personprincipally engaged in the drilling of natural gas and oil wells for which Shipper or direct or indirect subsidiary of Shipper acts as a general partner, managing partner or manager and the securities of which have been offered and sold toinvestors. 

4. Other Terms of Gathering Agreements. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Gathering Agreements are notamended, modified or affected by this Amendment. 

5. Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts andby different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute but one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executedcounterpart of this Amendment by facsimile shall be equally as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Amendment. 

[Signatures appear on following pages] 

 

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**IN WITNESS WHEREOF**, the parties have executed this Amendment to be effective as of the date firstwritten above. 

 
**Shipper:**ATLAS AMERICA, INC.By: 
 
Name: Its: ATLAS ENERGY RESOURCES, LLCBy: 
 
Name: Its: ATLAS ENERGY OPERATING COMPANY, LLCBy: Atlas Energy Resources, LLC, its sole memberBy: 
 
Name: Its: RESOURCE ENERGY, LLCBy: 
Atlas Energy Operating Company, LLC, its sole member
By: Atlas Energy Resources, LLC, its sole memberBy: 
 
Name: Its: 
 

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VIKING RESOURCES, LLCBy: 
Atlas Energy Operating Company, LLC, its sole member
By: Atlas Energy Resources, LLC, its sole memberBy: 
 
Name: Its: ATLAS NOBLE, LLCBy: 
Atlas Energy Operating Company, LLC, its sole member
By: Atlas Energy Resources, LLC, its sole memberBy: 
 
Name: Its: ATLAS RESOURCES, LLCBy: AIC, LLC, its sole memberBy: 
Atlas Energy Operating Company, LLC, its sole member
By: Atlas Energy Resources, LLC, its sole memberBy: 
 
Name: Its: ATLAS AMERICA, LLCBy: 
Atlas Energy Operating Company, LLC, its sole member
By: 
Atlas Energy Resources, LLC, its sole member
By: 
 
Name: Its: 
 

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**Gatherer:**ATLAS PIPELINE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P.By: 
Atlas Pipeline Partners GP, LLC, its general partner
By: 
 
Name: Its: ATLAS PIPELINE PARTNERS, L.P.By: 
Atlas Pipeline Partners GP, LLC, its general partner
By: 
 
Name: Its: 
 

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