YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- Hilcorp Energy Co., Houston, continues to place emphasis on developing the northern tier of the Utica shale in Pennsylvania, as evidenced by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection issuing two new horizontal well permits to the company last week.
The DEP awarded Hilcorp permits to drill new wells in Pulaski Township at the Artman North pad. The company has several other producing wells and well pads under development in this section of the county as well as across the Ohio line in Poland Township.
Across the state line in Ohio, energy exploration companies are busy concentrating on drilling opportunities in the southeastern portion of the state, where existing wells have proven more productive than their northern counterparts.
All seven permits issued by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources in Ohio's Utica shale last week were targeted for Belmont County.
American Energy Utica LLC, a subsidiary of American Energy Partners LP, was awarded three permits for wells in Union Township at the Bedway site. Former Chesapeake Energy Corp. CEO Aubrey McClendon formed American Energy last year.
Also last week, ODNR awarded four new horizontal well permits to Gulfport Energy Corp. for its McLaughlin well pad in Somerset Township.
As of Aug. 2, ODNR recorded 1,428 permits for wells in the Utica. Of these, 997 wells are drilled and 491 are listed as producing.
Copyright 2014 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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