SALEM, Ohio — Monroe and Belmont counties appear to be leading Ohio in the number of new permits issued by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources in September for Utica shale wells to be drilled.
Belmont County
The ODNR issued 17 new permits in Belmont County during September. Two were issued in Smith Township to Rice Drilling Development, seven in Washington Township to Gulfport Energy, four in Smith Township to American Energy Utica, three in Mead Township to XTO Energy and one in Richland Township to XTO Energy.
According to the ODNR report, there are 45 wells waiting to be hooked up to pipelines and infrastructure. There are currently 31 producing wells in the county.
Monroe County
The ODNR also issued 17 new permits in Monroe County. There were six permits issued in Franklin Township to Antero Resources Corporation.
Four permits were issued in each Sunsbury Township and Adams Township to Gulfport Energy.
There are now 59 wells either being drilled or are already drilled, and 25 producing wells in Monroe County.
Harrison County
The drilling boom continues in Harrison County as well, where seven permits were issued in September.
Three permits were issued in Franklin Township to American Energy Utica, and three in Stock Township toEclipse Resources. A single permit was issued in Moorefield Township to Gulfport Energy.
There are 125 drilled wells in Harrison County, 80 of which are now producing.
Noble County
In Noble County, the ODNR issued seven permits. Six permits were issued in Marion Township to Antero Resources and one in Seneca Township to Antero Resources.
Meanwhile, 54 drilled wells are awaiting pipeline infrastructure. There are 25 producing wells there.
Carroll County
The drillers in Carroll County appear to be moving at a slower speed than when they were drilling in 2013. The ODNR issued five permits during September. All five of them were issued to Chesapeake Exploration, with four in Loudon and one in Augusta Township.
There are now 264 producing wells in Carroll County, and another 102 wells awaiting infrastructure.
Guernsey County
The ODNR issued five new well permits in Guernsey County. There were three permits issued in Wills Township to Eclipse Resources, two in Londonderry Township with one going to American Energy Utica, and one to Carrizo Utica.
The ODNR reports there are 61 wells drilled and 35 producing wells in the county.
Columbiana County
A county that has been quiet for a couple of months received four permits. The ODNR issued four permits to Atlas Noble, for a wellpad on the southern end of Firestone Farms in Fairfield Township.
Washington County
The ODNR issued four permits in Adams Township to PDC Energy Inc.
The ODNR reports show three wells have finished drilling and awaiting infrastructure. Meanwhile, six wells are producing.
Tuscarawas County
One new permit was issued in Tuscarawas County. The permit was issued in Clay Township to Enervest Operating,
There is one drilled well and four producing wells in the county, according to the ODNR report.
Marcellus shale
In Ohio, there were no Marcellus shale permits issued during September. To date, the ODNR has issued 44 permits in this play, and 27 wells are waiting for infrastructure. There are now 11 producing wells in the Marcellus.
Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection issued 183 permits to drill new wells and 22 were issued granting permission to drill deeper.
Bradford County, the county where the Marcellus shale started in 2008, led the permit list in September with 36 permits, of which 32 were granted for new wells.
So far in 2014, the DEP has issued 438 permits for new wells. In September, the DEP reported there were four shale wells drilled and 75 had have been drilled so far this year.
Susquehanna County
The Pennsylvania DEP issued a total of 28 wells permits in Susquehanna County, with 26 for new wells and two for permission to dig deeper.
Greene County
Greene County was second in the total number of permits issued last month. The DEP issued 32 permits, of which 27 are for new wells and five are for deeper wells.
In 2014, the DEP has issued a total of 267 permits for new wells and 184 wells have been drilled in the county. In September, the DEP reported there were 19 wells drilled.
Butler County
Another county making big strides in the number of permits issued is Butler County. The DEP issued 18 new permits during September, which brings the county’s year-to-date total to 146 permits.
In September, there were 17 unconventional wells drilled and 101 drilled in 2014 so far.
Washington County
The DEP issued 16 permits in Washington County during September. A total of 14 were issued for new wells and two were issued to drill deeper.
According to the DEP, there were a total of 297 permits issued in 2014 with 205 issued for new wells and 92 issued to drill deeper. In September, there were five new wells drilled in Washington County.
So far in 2014, there were 145 unconventional wells drilled in this southwestern Pa. county.
Beaver County
The DEP issued 11 new permits in September for new wells. So far in 2014, 34 new well permits have been issued.
As far as drilling, the DEP reported no new wells were drilled in September, however, 12 have been drilled since January in Beaver County.
Mercer County
Mercer County jumped in the number of permits issued in September. The DEP reported there were nine permits issued and 23 total permits issued since January with two requests to drill deeper.
Lawrence County
Although, there were only seven permits listed for September, Lawrence County is catching up in the permit race. There were a total of 34 permits issued since January. The DEP reported there were no wells drilled in September. However, there have been 23 wells drilled in 2014.
West Virginia
The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection was also busy during September with the number of shale permits issued.
Doddridge County
The county that Farm and Dairy found with the most shale permits issued in September was Doddridge County. There were 21 permits issued in September. Of those, 14 were issued to EQT Production Company on three separate properties.
The remaining seven were issued to Antero Resources Corporation on five different properties.
Ritchie County
The DEP issued 11 permits during September in Ritchie County. All of the permits were issued to Antero Resources Corporation on seven different properties.
Marshall County
A total of 10 permits were issued in Marshall County during September. Seven of the permits were issued to Chevron Appalachia, on one piece of property. The remaining three were issued to Chesapeake Appalachia, on two separately owned properties.
Wetzel County
The DEP issued seven permits during September in Wetzel County. All of the permits were issued to the EQT Production Company for well sites on four separate properties.
Tyler County
In Tyler County, the DEP issued five new permits. Two permits were issued to Noble Energy and three were issued to the Antero Resources on two separate properties.
Ohio County
In Ohio County, there were two permits issued to Chesapeake Appalachia on the same property.
Marion and Monongalia counties. One permit was issued each in Marion and Monongalia counties. One permit was issued to Northeast Natural Energy, in Monongalia County and one permit was issued in Marion County to the EQT Production Company.
