YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- Hilcorp Energy Co. received two new permits for horizontal wells in Columbiana County, as that company continues to develop acreage in the northern Utica shale that it acquired more than a year ago in a lease assignment deal with Chesapeake Energy Corp.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources awarded Hilcorp two permits to drill at the Nolker site in Fairfield Township, the agency reported. Last month, Hilcorp secured six permits to drill at the McNicol farm in Fairfield Township, which is part of the Brinker Storage Field.

ODNR issued 15 new horizontal wells for the week ended Dec. 13, records show.

In addition to the two Columbiana County wells, the agency awarded eight permits to Rice Drilling D LLC for horizontal wells in Belmont County in southeastern Ohio. Gulfport Energy Corp. secured three well permits for sites in Harrison County, and Eclipse Resources I LP was awarded two new permits for wells in Monroe County.

No new permits were issued last week for Mahoning or Trumbull counties. Since 2010, ODNR has issued 1,700 horizontal permits in the Utica shale. There are 1,258 wells drilled to date, and 704 wells in production throughout the Ohio portion of the Utica.

No new permits were issued last week by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection for wells in either Mercer or Lawrence counties in western Pennsylvania, according to agency records.

Copyright 2014 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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