Queensland gas pioneer Richard Cottee has got powerful backers to help realise his ambitions for junior explorer State Gas to carve out a slice of an east coast market he expects to allow small, smart players to punch above their weight.

Multimillionaire energy entrepreneur Trevor St Baker is among new investors who climbed on board in State Gas' $9.5 million capital raising last week. Meanwhile, two major gas consumers Incitec Pivot and Shell's ERM Power business are understood to have supported State Gas' successful application for extensive new gas acreage from the Queensland government.