Chesapeake, Hilcorp Secure Permits in Northern Utica

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — Oklahoma City-based Chesapeake Energy Corp. and Houston-based Hilcorp Energy Co. have staked out new wells in the northern tier of the Utica shale in Ohio and western Pennsylvania.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources issued 13 new permits for horizontal wells in the Utica during the week ended Feb. 28, one of which is in Columbiana County.

Chesapeake secured a single permit to drill at the Paige farm in Franklin Township. Another application for a second well at the site is pending, according to the regulatory agency.

Chesapeake also secured eight additional permits, seven in Carroll County and one in Jefferson County, records show. Four other permits were issued to Eclipse Resources LP for wells in Monroe County.

No new permits were issued last week for Mahoning or Trumbull counties.

The Utica’s rig count stood at 37 for the week, unchanged from the previous week. To date, ODNR has issued 1,837 permits and companies have drilled 1,382 of these wells. Of those drilled, 818 are in production.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection reported it issued Hilcorp permits for five new wells in Mercer County. Four of the wells are targeted for the Wengerd farm in Lackawannock Township, and the Weiser farm in Shenango Township.

The Pennsylvania DEP did not issue new permits for Lawrence County.

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