ODNR Approves Utica Shale Permits for Columbiana County

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — The Ohio Department of Natural Resources last week approved two permits for Hilcorp Energy Co. to drill two new horizontal wells in Columbiana County, according to the agency’s latest data.

Houston-based Hilcorp secured two permits to drill wells at the Baker well pad in Elkrun Township.

The Columbiana wells are among 17 Utica permits ODNR issued during the week ended May 25.

Ascent Resources Utica LLC secured eight permits for wells – six in Jefferson County and two in Belmont County — while Rice Drilling LLC received seven permits for wells in Belmont County.

To date, ODNR has issued 3,093 permits across the Utica shale, of which 2,601 are drilled and 2,186 are in production, according to ODNR.

The rig count in the Utica stood at 16 as of May 25, the state reported.

There were no new permits issued in Mahoning or Trumbull counties in the northern segment of the Utica, according to ODNR. There were also no new permits issued in neighboring Lawrence and Mercer counties in western Pennsylvania during the week.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.