COLUMBUS, Ohio -- American Energy Utica LLC, a division of Oklahoma City-based American Energy Partners LP, was awarded six new permits to drill horizontal wells in eastern Ohio's Utica shale play last week, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

The company, founded last year by former Chesapeake Energy CEO Aubrey McClendon, secured all six permits for sites in Harrison County, records show. Four of the wells are slated for the Cravat Coal pad, while two others are targeted for the Triplett FRK pad.

ODNR issued 12 horizontal permits for the week ended Oct. 18, the agency reported. In addition to American Energy's permits, ODNR awarded five new horizontal well permits to Denver-based Antero Resources Corp. for the Biedenbach unit in Monroe County.

A single permit was issued to Rice Drilling LLC, Canonsburg, Pa., for a well in Belmont County, ODNR records show.

There were no new wells permitted for sites in Columbiana, Mahoning, or Trumbull counties for the week, ODNR said. Nor were there any applications received for new well permits for these counties over the last month.

Since 2010, ODNR has issued 1,560 horizontal well permits to energy companies canvassing the Utica. These companies have collectively drilled 1,122 new wells, 607 of which are now producing.

The bulk of these permits have been issued in the central or southern tiers of the Utica play, where returns are strong.

There were no new permits issued for Lawrence or Mercer counties in western Pennsylvania, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

Copyright 2014 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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