Latest ODNR Report: Utica Shale Permitting Still Very Slow

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In the wake of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Oil and Gas Division Chief Rick Simmers announcing that the agency expects to issue less drilling permits in the Utica shale this year than it did in 2014, the latest weekly permitting report continues to indicate that Simmers prediction could be spot on.

Only five new permits were issued last week, marking yet another week of sagging activity.  Only nine permits have been issued for Utica shale drilling in the past three weeks combined, as low oil and natural gas prices have brought new activity to a near-standstill.

Four of the new permits last week were issued to Aubrey McClendon's American Energy Utica for drilling in Harrison County.  American Energy Utica also was the owner of all four permits the previous week.  The only other one listed on the report is the first Utica shale permit issued to Protege Energy, for the company's Caywood A 1H well in Washington County.

There have now been 1,877 total permits issued for horizontal drilling in Ohio's Utica shale, with 1,456 wells drilled and 847 producing.  The Utica rig count has dropped to 24.

View the full report below or by clicking here.



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