Utica shale wells were completed at a hectic pace during 2013. Ohio’s third-quarter 2013 volumes surpassed the full-year 2012 output in the state ? in the third quarter, 245 horizontal shale wells produced a combined 1.3 million barrels of crude and 33.6 billion cubic feet of gas.

Beginning in 2014, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources started collecting production data quarterly, instead of annually, to provide a more accurate picture of the state’s oil and gas industry.

Rex Energy Corp. completed a number of wells at its Warrior South prospect from the five-well J Anderson pad in Guernsey County. At this pad, production was placed into sales at an average five-day rate of 1,886 barrels of oil equivalent per day per well. The average depth of wells was 12,873 feet, with an average lateral length of 4,250 feet. The discoveries were completed in an average of 28 stages.

A new company intends to become a big Utica player: American Energy-Utica LLC has raised $1.7 billion to develop eastern Ohio acreage. The company plans initially to acquire 110,000 net acres of leasehold in the southern portion of the play. American Energy-Utica will start with one rig in the fourth quarter of 2013 and plans to increase the number to at least 12 rigs over the next two to three years.

1 Rex Energy Corp.: 1/23/14

Results from a Guernsey County, Ohio, drill-pad operation (the five-well J. Anderson pad) were announced by Rex Energy Corp. Production from the pad averaged 1,866 bl. of oil equivalent per day from the company’s Warrior South prospect. Assuming full ethane recovery and an average gas shrink of 12%, well production is made up of 40% natural gas liquids, 40% gas and 20% condensate. The wells, #1H, #2H, #3H, #4 H and #5H Anderson, were drilled to an average depth of 12,873 ft., completed with an average of 28 stages, and had an average casing pressure of 3,293 psi. To the southwest, in Noble County, Rex completed #1H Noble and #1H Guernsey and #2H Guernsey earlier in 2013. Rex’s headquarters are in State College, Pa.

2 Gulfport Energy Corp.: 12/20/13

A Utica producer by Gulfport Energy Corp. is the first dry-gas well in Belmont County, Ohio. The #1-4H Irons was placed on production flowing 30.3 million cu. ft. per day. The well was drilled to 16,393 ft., 9,770 ft. true vertical, with a 6,629-ft. horizontal leg. The Key Consolidated Field producer was drilled out of a vertical pilot hole and is in Armstrong Mills Quad 7.5, Section 4, Washington Township. It bottomed to the southeast in Section 33, York Township. The Oklahoma City-based company has permitted a second horizontal test from an offsetting surface location, #2-4H Irons, which is also expected to bottom about 1.5 miles southeast. According to Gulfport, the company currently has seven rigs drilling horizontal Utica shale tests.

3 Halcon Resources Inc.: 10/09/13

A horizontal Utica well by Halcon Resources Inc. produced 2,223 bbl. of oil equivalent per day with 75% liquids assuming full ethane recovery from a site in Warren 7.5 Quad, Lordstown Township in Trumbull County, Ohio. The #1H Kibler flowed of 860 bbl. of condensate and 4.5 million cu. ft. of Btu-rich gas based on composition analysis and assuming 27% natural gas shrink. According to Halcon estimates, the well would produce an additional 821 bbl. of natural gas liquids per day. The horizontal prospect was drilled to 14,257 ft. and had a 6,734 ft. lateral that was completed with 26 stages of fracturing. Before the horizontal portion of the well was completed, the company drilled an 8,750-ft. vertical pilot hole. The Houston-based company plans to build an inventory of multi-well pads for a full-scale development program, with lateral lengths of 7,000-9,000 ft.

4 Gulfport Energy Corp.: 09/18/13

Three Harrison County, Ohio, Utica completions were announced by Gulfport Energy Corp. In Fork South Field, #3-28H Wagner had projected depth of 16,950 ft. and a true vertical depth of 8,535 ft. with a 6,867-ft. lateral. The venture had an average seven-day sales rate of 9.7 million cu. ft. of gas, 214 bbl. of condensate and 1,067 bbl. of natural gas liquids per day (assuming full ethane recovery and a natural gas shrink of 18%). This well is in Section 28 of Athens Township. During a seven-day period, #3-4H Clay averaged 2.5 million cu. ft. of gas, 392 bbl. of condensate and 323 bbl. of natural gas liquids per day assuming full ethane recovery and a gas shrink of 27%. The Canton Consolidated Field well is in Section 4 of Freeport Township. It had a projected depth of 15,600 ft. and was drilled to a 7,932 ft. (true vertical) with a 6,715-ft. horizontal lateral. The #3-27H Lyon had an average seven-day sales rate of 2 million cu. ft. of gas, 477 bbl. of condensate and 274 bbl. of natural gas liquids per day (assuming full ethane recovery and a gas shrink of 21%). The projected depth was 14,600 ft. and the true vertical depth was 7,459 ft. with a 7,004-ft. lateral. The Canton Consolidated Field well is in Section 27 of Washington Township.

5 Gulfport Energy Corp.: 09/17/13

Gulfport Energy Corp. announced results from two horizontal Utica shale wells in Belmont County, Ohio. Following a 60-day resting period, #1-28H McCort had a seven-day sales rate average of 9.6 million cu. ft. of gas per day. The flowing tubing pressure was 4,654 psi on an unreported choke size. The #1-28H McCort had a true vertical depth of 8,475 ft. with a 7,501-ft. lateral and was drilled in Section 28, with a bottomhole 1.5 miles to the northwest in Section 35. From the same drilling pad in Section 28, #2-28H McCort had rate (following a 60-day resting period) of 11.6 million cu. ft. of gas and 21 bbl. of condensate per day. The 9,489-ft. venture had a true vertical depth of 8,466 ft. and bottomed beneath Section 36 with a 9,489-ft. horizontal lateral. Both Gulfport wells have recovered Btu-rich gas, resulting in strong production of natural gas liquids. The Oklahoma City-based company has permitted four more horizontal tests to be drilled from the McCort drilling pad in Belmont County and intends to drill 55-60 gross wells in the play during 2013.

6 Magnum Hunter Resources Corp.: 09/11/13

According to IHS Inc., Magnum Hunter Resources Corp. has started drilling the first of up to 18 wells on a drilling pad (Stadler) in Monroe County, Ohio. The #3 Uh Stadler Unit A is in Section 4, Lee Township, Round Bottom 7.5 Quad, in Morton Field and is targeting Marcellus shale, followed by a second test targeting the deeper Utica shale. The Stadler pad has been designed and permitted to drill 10 Marcellus wells and eight Utica wells. The first two wells will fracture stimulate both Marcellus and Utica, The rig will be used exclusively to drill shale wells on the Houston-based company’s acreage in southeastern Ohio. Magnum Hunter holds nearly 160,000 net acres of exploration land in the Appalachian Basin and operates and holds a 50% stake in the drilling unit.

7 Chesapeake Operating Inc.: 06/27/13

Chesapeake Operating Inc. announced results from three Utica shale completions in Ohio. In Carroll County, #1H Coe 34-12-4 had a peak rate of 1,980 bbl. of oil equivalent per day (7.6 million cu. ft. of gas, 235 bbl. of crude, 470 bbl. of natural gas liquids [NGLs]). The Scroggs Field South horizontal well was drilled to 14,218 ft., with a true vertical depth of 8,041 ft. in Section 34 of Lee Township. The #6H Scott 24-12-5 is in Section 24, Perry Township. This Dining Fork Field well had a peak rate of 1,530 bbl. of oil equivalent per day (285 bbl. of oil, 5.4 million cu. ft. of gas and 350 bbl. of NGLs) after drilling to 13,500 ft. In Harrison County, #5H Henderson 10-12-6 had a peak rate of 1,625 bbl. of oil equivalent per day. The total depth reported is 13,867 ft. The Stock Field venture is in Section 10, Stock Township. The Oklahoma City-based company did not provide additional completion details.

8 Halcon Resources Inc.: 06/10/13

A Utica/Point Pleasant discovery by Halcon Resources Inc. was announced. The new Trumbull County, Ohio, completion is in Orangeville 7.5 Quad in Hartford Field. According to IHS Inc., #1H Brugler started flowing back the fracturing fluid load. Halcon expects to tie the well into a sales pipeline in early July 2013. The #1H Brugler had an effective lateral length of 3,826 ft. and was completed with 16 fracture-stimulated stages after drilling to 10,959 ft. Halcon is awaiting completion of #1H Kibler in Trumbull County – this venture was drilled to 14,257 ft. Halcon is under way with a drilling program in Ohio and Pennsylvania to delineate the company’s Utica/Point Pleasant acreage position, The company plans to adhere to a 60-day shut-in period on all wells throughout the delineation phase.