Number of Producing Utica Wells Hits 1,000
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Oil and natural gas operations in Ohio’s Utica shale reached another milestone this week as the number of producing horizontal wells across the play surpassed 1,000.
According to the latest update from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the Utica has become home to 1,004 producing wells.
Late last week, ODNR released record second-quarter production results from 978 wells. Oil production grew by 20% compared to the first quarter while natural gas production rose nearly 21%.
Thus far, ODNR has issued 1,996 permits in the Utica and 1,586 wells have been drilled.
However, in what might be the most telling sign yet of a slowdown, ODNR did not issue even one permit to any company for new horizontal wells across the Utica for the week ended Aug. 29.
The rig count – that is, the number of drilling rigs in operation in the Ohio portion of the Utica – remained unchanged at 21 compared to the previous week, ODNR said. In January, the rig count stood at 53.
Two new Utica horizontal well permits were issued for Lawrence County in western Pennsylvania, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. The DEP awarded Hilcorp Energy Co. two permits to drill at the Whiting farm in Pulaski Township.
No new permits were issued for neighboring Mercer County in Pennsylvania, according to the DEP.
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