ODNR Issues 7 New Utica Well Permits

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Oil and gas exploration and permitting activity in eastern Ohio’s Utica shale remains slow, according to the latest data from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

ODNR issued just seven permits for new horizontal wells for the week ended June 6. All of the permits are concentrated in the play’s southern tier.

The agency issued three permits to Chesapeake Exploration LLC for wells in Harrison County, two to R.E. Gas Development LLC for wells in Carroll County, and single permits apiece to American Energy Utica LLC and XTO Energy for new horizontal wells in Belmont County.

The Utica’s rig count stood at 23, down from 26 the previous week.

To date, 1,505 wells have been drilled in Ohio’s Utica shale and 901 of these wells are in production, according to ODNR.

Across the state line in western Pennsylvania, Hilcorp Energy Co. was awarded a single permit to drill in Lawrence County in Neshannock Township, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

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