Wednesday, August 13, 2014YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- The Ohio Department of Natural Resources reports that more than 1,000 wells have been drilled in the Utica shale within eastern Ohio.
Since 2010, 1004 horizontal wells have been drilled in the Utica as of Aug. 9, surpassing the 1,000-mark for the first time.
Of that number, 495 wells are listed as producing, ODNR reported Tuesday.
Last week ODNR issued nine new horizontal well permits for oil and gas exploration in the Utica, eight of which are for wells in Londonderry Township in Guernsey County.
Three permits were awarded to American Energy Utica LLC, a subsidiary of American Energy Partners LP, the company started last year by former Chesapeake CEO Aubrey McClendon.
Oklahoma City-based American Energy secured permits to drill in Guernsey County while Chesapeake was awarded a single permit for a new horizontal well in Carroll County, ODNR records show.
ODNR also issued five new permits to Eclipse Resources, all within Guernsey County, records show.
No new permits were issued for wells in Mahoning, Trumbull or Columbiana counties, where drilling activity is light compared to the southern tier of the Utica.
ODNR has issued 1,431 permits since exploration began in the Utica in 2010, according to documents.
No new permits issued for Utica wells in 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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