Nine Permits Issued in Ohio’s Utica

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Ohio Department of Natural Resources awarded nine new permits for horizontal wells in the Utica shale during the week ended April 29, the agency reports.

The number of rigs operating in the Utica stood at 21, one fewer than the previous week, ODNR said.

Four permits were issued to Gulfport Energy Corp. for wells in Belmont County while another four were awarded to Chesapeake Exploration Co. for wells in Harrison County. Ascent Resources LLC received one permit for a new well in Jefferson County, ODNR said.

No permits were awarded to energy companies exploring the northern tier of the Utica, which encompasses Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties.

Permit activity is also quiet in bordering Lawrence and Mercer counties in western Pennsylvania. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, there were no new permits issued in this region during the week.

As of April 29, 2,485 permits have been issued in Ohio’s Utica. Of that number, 1,974 wells are drilled and 1,540 are in production, according to ODNR.

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