The Utica continues to be Ohio’s dominant shale play. As of Oct. 12, 577 Utica wells had been drilled out of 927 permits, compared to 18 Marcellus wells out of 35 permits. Here’s a look at recent Utica Shale developments by the numbers.
THIRD
As in third quarter. Although drilling in the Utica has steadily increased over the last year, it is still behind the pace of other shale regions. This is how the industry looked between July and September, according to oilfield services company Baker Hughes, which happens to be nearing completion of its regional hub in Massillon.
— Utica (Ohio, Pa., W.Va.)
112 wells
36 rigs
— Marcellus (Pa., W.Va., Ohio)
562 wells
83 rigs
— Williston (North Dakota)
747 wells
183 rigs
— Eagle Ford (Texas)
1,133 wells
233 rigs
— Barnett (Texas)
380 wells
31 rigs
335
The number of Utica well permits in Carroll County. Stark County’s neighbor to the southeast has more permits and wells drilled than any other county in the state, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
Other counties with more than 40 permits include:
Harrison: 139
Columbiana: 89
Noble: 64
Guernsey: 59
Belmont: 47
Monroe: 47
111/529
Chesapeake Energy remains the dominant shale drilller in Ohio with 111 producing wells out of 529 permits. It is concentrating on Carroll and surrounding counties, and is building a new regional field office in Louisville.
But, the Oklahoma City company has cut 900 of workers at a cost of $70 million during restructuring under new CEO Doug Lawler, including nearly 80 workers at an office in Green this month and a handful of corporate development and community outreach staff in Canton in August.
Gulfport Energy is the second largest Utica driller in the state with 11 producing wells on 86 permits. It increased its Utica acreage by 9,000 acres during the third quarter, but production has been less than expected because of pipeline delays.
Gulfport paid a $250,000 fine in September and agreed to change the way it builds drilling pads after the Ohio Department of Natural Resources found contaminated soil at seven of the company’s well sites.
Other drillers with more than 20 permits include:
Antero Resources: 43 permits
CNX Gas: 37
Hess Ohio: 36
Rex Energy: 23
$1.7 BILLION
That’s the money American Energy-Utica has raised to acquire leases on 110,000 acres and begin drilling in the southern part of Ohio’s Utica Shale. The new company, formed by Chesapeake Energy founder Aubrey McClendon, announced its plans earlier this month.
American Energy-Utica is also in a joint venture with Red Hill Development of Dover to drill in Guernsey and Harrison counties.
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