OH Shale Drilling Permits See Dramatic Increase in 2011

The number of shale gas drilling permits in Ohio has rocketed from virtually none in 2009 and 2010, to 141 in 2011—the vast majority of that in the Utica Shale.

Ohio has issued 141 drilling permits for the Marcellus and Utica shale deposits so far this year, the Associated Press reported.

The state issued only three permits combined between 2009 and 2010 for drilling in the Utica shale and six permits from 2006 to 2010 in the Marcellus shale, the AP reports. Through Dec. 4, it approved drilling in the Utica shale 131 times and in the Marcellus shale 10 times.*

If you want to search the Ohio database of permits and wells being drilled, visit this page. Warning: The Ohio database is not for the faint of heart! Navigating around it will take some time to figure out.

*Cincinnati Business Courier (Dec 13, 2011) – Ohio issues 141 shale permits this year