The Clinton Sandstone formation has been drilled in Ohio since the late 1800s–for both oil and natural gas. Sandstone is a tightly packed rock like shale, rock that requires fracking in order to effectively release the oil and gas trapped in it. Until recently, the Clinton was drilled vertically. However, some drillers are now experimenting with horizontal drilling and fracking in the Clinton in hopes of reactivating old wells, and establishing new wells. According to a new fact sheet just published by the Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources (ODNR) about the Clinton Sandstone, “…after recent successes with horizontal drilling in the development of shale gas plays, operators began applying this method to “Clinton” fields in 2014. This new technology could lead to additional development of some older “Clinton” oil-and-gas fields and hold potential for discovery of new fields. If horizontal drilling proves to be profitable, Ohio could see yet another spike in “Clinton” production.” Cool. Here’s a copy of the ODNR’s Clinton Sandstone fact sheet detailing the history–and possible future–of the Clinton…
