Utica Shale

Halcon Resources Reports On Utica Shale Operations In Ohio And Pennsylvania

Halcon Resources Corporation (NYSE:HK) plans to drill between four and six wells into the Utica Shale during the last six months of 2012.  The first two wells in this program will be spud in October 2012.

Halcon Resources Corporation has about 130,000 net acres prospective for the Utica Shale/Point Pleasant formation.  The leasehold is located in Trumbull and Mahoning Counties, Ohio, and Mercer, Venango and Crawford Counties, Pennsylvania.

Halcon Resources Corporation has obtained five drilling permits to date and expects to receive the other permits shortly.  The company plans to shut in Utica Shale wells for up to 60 days prior to putting them onto production.  The wells are shut in to enhance the long term recovery of hydrocarbons and the lack of infrastructure in the area to process and transport oil and gas.

Halcon Resources Corporation expects first production from the Utica Shale in the first quarter of 2013.

Rex Energy Reports On Utica Shale Well

Rex Energy (REXX) reported production results on the company’s first Utica Shale well drilled in Ohio.

The Brace #1H well produced 1,094 barrels of oil equivalent (BOE) during the first 24 hours, with 43% of the production composed of natural gas liquids, 31% natural gas and 26% condensate.  The production figures assume full ethane recovery.

The Brace #1H well is located in Carroll County, Ohio, and was drilled to a total measured depth of 12,332 feet with a lateral length of approximately 4,170 feet.   The well was completed with a 17 stage hydraulic fracturing operation.  The crude oil has an API gravity of 60.1 degrees and the natural gas is approximately 1,250 BTU.

PDC Energy Updates Utica Shale Program

PDC Energy (PDCE) updated the company’s Utica Shale development program, where the company has 45,000 net acres spread across Guernsey, Noble, Washington and other counties in Ohio.

PDC Energy is no longer looking for a joint venture partner in the Utica Shale as the company felt that the offers received did not provide enough value to shareholders.  The company will develop the acreage on a standalone basis.

PDC Energy plans to spend $95 million in capital in the Utica Shale in 2012 and estimates 2013 spending at $50 million.  The company has disclosed information on three wells to date:

Onega Commissioners #14-25H – This well is currently being completed and then will be shut in for 60 days prior to a flow test in November 2012.

Detweiler #42-3H – This well will be completed by the end of 2012 and will be flow tested in the first quarter of 2013.

PDC Energy expects to spud its third horizontal Utica Shale well in the fourth quarter of 2012.