COLUMBUS — Belmont County is not only leading the state for the highest number of permits issues for the past several months, but the county is also leading in production.
Of the top five Utica shale gas producing wells, all of them are in Belmont County. However, none of the five best oil producing wells are in Belmont County. Two of the top five oil producing wells are in Guernsey and two in Harrison counties. One is located in Carroll County.
4th quarter 2015: Utica shale gas well production
| Well Name | County | Driller | Gas Produced | Days |
| Mohawk Warrior 12H | Belmont | Rice Drilling D LLC | 1,626,593 mcf | 92 |
| Krazy Train 4H | Belmont | Rice Drilling D LLC | 1,423,618 mcf | 92 |
| Smith A 1 H-12 | Belmont | Ascent Resources Utica LLC | 1,423,046 mcf | 92 |
| Eureka SMT BL 6 HA | Belmont | Ascent Resources Utica LLC | 1,402,107 mcf | 92 |
During the fourth quarter of 2015, Ohio’s horizontal shale wells produced 6,249,116 barrels of oil and 302,505,428 Mcf (303 billion cubic feet) of natural gas, according to figures released March 9 by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
The production totals for the fourth quarter of 2015 increased over the third quarter of 2015 as oil increased by 10 percent while gas increased by almost 25 percent. Quarterly production in 2015 also shows a fourth quarter horizontal shale well production increase of more than 75 percent for oil and 80 percent for gas from 2014’s fourth quarter totals.
The gas production in Ohio showed a huge increase from year 2014 to year 2015. According to the ODNR, the Utica shale wells produced 452,866,564 Mcf of gas in 2014. In 2015, the wells produced 953,863,990 Mcf which means an increase of over 110 percent.
4th quarter 2015: Utica shale oil well production
| Well Name | County | Driller | Oil Produced | Days |
| Red Hill Farm MDS GR 3H | Guernsey | Ascent Resources Utica | 59,502 | 92 |
| RH BSA S NTG HR 4H | Harrison | Ascent Resources Utica | 45,951 | 92 |
| Sauers 8-14-6 8H | Carroll | Chesapeake Exploration | 45,917 | 92 |
| Caston Land GR 4H | Guernsey | Ascent Resources Utica | 34,836 | 92 |
| R Alan 3-13-6 1H | Harrison | Chesapeake Exploration | 34,491 | 92 |
According to the ODNR, the wells in the Utica shale produced 21,983,959 barrels of oil in 2015. In 2014, the Utica shale produced 10,9999,162 barrels of oil. That means there was a 99 percent increase in the barrels of oil produced. The ODNR quarterly report lists 1,265 wells, 1,230 of which reported production. Thirty-five wells reported no production.
Of the 1,230 wells reporting production results:
• The average amount of oil produced was 5,081 barrels of oil.
• The average amount of gas produced was 245,939 Mcf.
All horizontal production reports can be accessed at: oilandgas.ohiodnr.gov/
Ohio law does not require the separate reporting of Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) or condensate. Oil and gas reporting totals listed on the report include NGLs and condensate. ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.gov.
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