Finally, 1st Well Drilled Under Ohio State-Owned Wildlife Area

It was a long time coming, but a driller finally sunk a horizontal well under (not on) an Ohio state-owned park/wildlife refuge. The Ohio Oil & Gas Land Management Commission (OGLMC) awarded a contract to Encino Energy to drill under the Valley Run Wildlife Area on February 26, 2024. On that date, the commission selected Encino as the winning bidder for the mineral rights to frack under Valley Run Wildlife Area in Carroll County, Ohio, as part of a broader decision to lease parts of state-owned lands, including Salt Fork State Park and Zepernick Wildlife Area, to oil and gas companies (see Ohio Awards Drilling Contracts for State Parks – Salt Fork Surprise). Encino leased three parcels at Valley Run for $1.05 million. The OGLMC's decision followed a bidding process that began in January 2024 and concluded with the commission's approval of the "highest and best" bids at their meeting on February 26 last year. And now, finally, Encino has drilled its first well under Valley Run.

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