ODNR Issues 21 New Permits in Utica Shale

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Ohio Department of Natural Resources issued 21 new permits for horizontal wells for the week ended July 4, the agency reports.

All of the permits were allocated to the southern tier of the play in Monroe, Harrison and Noble counties.

No new permits were issued for Mahoning, Trumbull or Columbiana counties in the Mahoning Valley, nor were new permits issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection for wells in neighboring Mercer or Lawrence counties.

ODNR awarded Antero Resources Corp. eight permits to drill in Noble County, and another eight permits to Eclipse Resources for wells in Monroe County. Hess Ohio Developments LLC received five permits for new horizontal wells in Harrison County, the agency reports.

While the number of permits increased to 21 from eight issued the previous week, the rig count in the Utica fell week-to-week. ODNR reported that 16 rigs were operating in the Utica for the week ended July 4 compared to 20 the week ended June 27.

To date, 1,964 permits have been issued in eastern Ohio’s Utica shale, 1,530 wells have been drilled, and 918 wells are producing, ODNR reports.

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