ODNR Issues 14 Permits in Utica Shale

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Ohio Department of Natural Resources last week issued 14 new permits for horizontal wells in eastern Ohio’s Utica shale to two energy companies.

Ascent Resources, fast becoming the most aggressive oil and gas exploration company in the Utica, secured 10 of the 14 new permits, according to the latest update from ODNR dated Sept. 29.

Seven of the permits are for wells in Jefferson County, while three are targeted for Belmont County, according to the agency.

ODNR approved four permits for Triad Hunter LLC, which plans to drill new wells in Monroe County.

The rig count in the Utica remained unchanged at 18 from the previous week.

As of Sept. 29, ODNR had issued 2,892 permits in the Utica, of which 2,420 are drilled and 2,029 are in production.

There were no new well permits issued in Mahoning, Trumbull or Columbiana counties during the week. Nor were there new permits issued in neighboring Lawrence and Mercer counties in western Pennsylvania, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

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