Public company Gulfport Energy, the third-largest driller in the Ohio Utica Shale (by the number of wells drilled), emerged from bankruptcy less than a year ago, in May 2021, with a new board and new top management (see Gulfport Energy Emerges from Bankruptcy w/New Board, CEO/CFO Gone). By September of last year the rumors began that the company was shopping itself for sale (see Big News: OH Utica Driller Gulfport Energy Looking to Sell Itself). There’s a new rumor that Gulfport is in serious talks to sell itself to and merge with private company Ascent Resources, the Ohio Utica’s largest producer.