Utica Rig Count, Permit Activity on Upswing

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The rig count in the Utica shale increased to 17 during the week ended Aug. 27, up three from the previous week, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

ODNR also reported that permit activity across the Utica is on the rise. The agency said that 12 permits were issued for new horizontal wells in Ohio’s Utica, up from just five the previous week.

All of the wells permitted are targeted for Belmont and Noble counties in the southern portion of the play, according to ODNR records.

Gulfport Energy Corp. received five permits, while Ascent Resources Utica LLC was awarded four permits to drill in Belmont County.

Antero Resources Corp. received three permits for new horizontal wells in Noble County.

To date, 2,229 permits have been issued in Ohio’s Utica, 1,784 wells have been drilled, and 1,392 horizontal wells are in production.

There were no new permits issued for Mahoning, Trumbull or Columbiana counties in the Utica’s northern tier. Nor were there new Utica permits issued in neighboring Lawrence and Mercer counties in western Pennsylvania, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

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