Utica Shale

Utica Shale Permit Update

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources issued fifteen new permits to drill into the Utica Shale, bringing the total number of permits to eighty five (40 horizontal and 45 vertical).

Chesapeake Energy (CHK) continued to lead in the development of the Utica Shale and was issued eight permits. Anadarko Petroleum (APC) received four permits, and Enervest and Beck Energy also were issued permits to drill.

Permits to drill in Ashtabula, Geauga and Muskingum Counties in Ohio were issued for the first time.  Also, the Townships of Richmond, Rose, Parkman, Harrison, Meigs and Brookfield will see Utica Shale drilling for the first time.

Date	County	Township	Type	Operator	Well Name
10/4/2011	Ashtabula	Richmond	V	Chesapeake	Moyer Ash 3
10/4/2011	Belmont	Richland	V	Beck Energy	Hickenbottom 1
10/4/2011	Carroll	Rose	V	Enervest	Ott 2
10/4/2011	Geauga	Parkman	V	Chesapeake	Mast Gea 6
9/30/2011	Carroll	Harrison	V	Enervest	Symes 5
9/30/2011	Muskingum	Meigs	V	Anadarko	FREC Musk Meigs A1
9/30/2011	Muskingum	Meigs	H	Anadarko	FREC Musk Meigs A1H
9/30/2011	Noble	Brookfield	V	Anadarko	Noble Brookfield A1
9/30/2011	Noble	Brookfield	H	Anadarko	Noble Brookfield A1H
9/27/2011	Carroll	Lee	H	Chesapeake	White 17-3-5 10H
9/20/2011	Carroll	Lee	H	Chesapeake	White 17-13-5-8H
9/20/2011	Carroll	Lee	H	Chesapeake	Tanner 24-12-4-10H
9/20/2011	Jefferson	Ross	H	Chesapeake	Asuncion 15-11-3-1H
9/20/2011	Mahoning	Goshen	V	Chesapeake	K Martig 6-17-4-8
9/20/2011	Mahoning	Goshen	H	Chesapeake	K Martig 6-17-4-8H

Utica Shale Update - 46 Horizontal Well Permits Issued

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources issued four new permits to drill into the Utica Shale over the last week.  The state has now issued 46 horizontal well permits and 29 stratigraphic test wells permits to various operators through 9/19/2011.

Chesapeake Energy (CHK) received a permit to drill the Schmuck Farms 22-14-5-3H horizontal well in Washington Township in Carroll County and another permit for the Mother Earth 24-10-3-8 vertical well in Paris Township in Tuscarawas County.

Eclipse Resources I LP received a permit for the Miley 5H vertical well in Seneca Township in Noble County.

HG Energy received a permit for the Whitacre Enterprises INC 701 S-5H horizontal well in Washington Township in Monroe County.

The Miley 5H Utica Shale well is the first permitted well in Noble County and both Paris and Seneca Townships saw the first drilling permits.

National Fuel Gas - Utica Shale Summary

National Fuel Gas (NFG) held a recent analyst meeting and disclosed additional information on the company’s position in the Utica Shale in Pennsylvania and Ohio.  The company is at an early stage of evaluation of the potential and can’t yet determine the acreage exposure or resource potential of the Utica Shale.

National Fuel Gas drilled a vertical well in the Jewett area of McKean County, Pennsylvania in June 2011.  The company found 400 feet of gross reservoir at a depth of 10,000 feet in the Utica, Point Pleasant and Trenton formations.

National Fuel Gas plans to spud a vertical well in the Henderson area in September 2011 and another horizontal well in the Tionesta area in 2012.  The company believes that most of its acreage is located in the dry gas window of the play.

National Fuel Gas conducts its exploration and production operations as Seneca Resources Corporation.