Belmont County

Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Belmont County | Carroll County | Energy Companies | Grenadier Energy | Harrison County | Industrywide Issues | Lease & Royalty Payments | Ohio | Regulation

Ohio OGLMC Awards Contract to Drill Under Leesville Wildlife Area
January 13, 2026January 13, 2026

Yesterday, the Ohio Oil & Gas Land Management Commission (OGLMC) met in a public forum in Columbus and voted to open another 6,570 acres of state-owned wildlife land (in Belmont and Harrison counties) to allow bids to frack under (not on top of) those areas. The Commission also awarded a contract to Grenadier Energy to drill under another wildlife area in Carroll County, 172 acres of the Leesville Wildlife Area. The state is getting an amazing $6,000 signing bonus, equaling $1.03 million, plus big royalties! Read More “Ohio OGLMC Awards Contract to Drill Under Leesville Wildlife Area”
Belmont County | CNX Resources | Energy Companies | EOG Resources | Gulfport Energy | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Seneca Resources | Tioga County (PA) | Tuscarawas County | Weekly Permits | West Virginia | Westmoreland County

12 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Dec 15 – 21
December 29, 2025December 29, 2025

The combined number of new permits issued to drill shale wells across the Marcellus/Utica region was 12 for the week of Dec. 15 – 21. Pennsylvania issued 8 new permits, while Ohio issued 4. West Virginia issued no new permits for that period. Among the companies receiving new permits were Seneca Resources, CNX Resources, Gulfport Energy, and EOG Resources. Read More “12 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Dec 15 – 21”
Antero Resources | Ascent Resources | Belmont County | Bradford County | Coterra Energy (Cabot O&G) | Doddridge County | Encino Energy | Energy Companies | EOG Resources | EQT Corp | Expand Energy | Fayette County | Greene County (PA) | Guernsey County | Gulfport Energy | Harrison County | Lycoming County | Marion County | Monongalia County | Monroe County | Northeast Natural Energy | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania General Energy | Susquehanna County | Tuscarawas County | Weekly Permits | West Virginia | Wetzel County

60 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Dec 1 – 7
December 12, 2025December 12, 2025

After a pathetic showing two weeks ago (just 8 permits), last week was a barnstormer—the most permits we’ve seen issued in a single week since we’ve been chronicling permits here on MDN. But, there’s a catch. Last week’s report for the combined three states shows 60 (!) permits issued, with 22 going to Pennsylvania, 24 to Ohio, and 14 to West Virginia. However, Ohio’s numbers are inflated because the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) reported numbers last week that stretch back three weeks in time. You may recall Ohio didn’t issue permits for two weeks in a row. They actually issued permits but didn’t report them. So, this report includes 6 permits for the two missing weeks. Still, removing six from the total means 54 permits were issued last week, which remains a record high. Could the spike in the spot price for natural gas in the M-U be the reason? Read More “60 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Dec 1 – 7”
Antero Resources | Belmont County | Energy Companies | Guernsey County | Harrison County | Industrywide Issues | INR/Infinity Natural Resources | M&A | Northern Oil & Gas | Ohio

NOG & INR Partner to Buy Antero Resources’ Ohio Utica for $1.2B
December 8, 2025December 22, 2025

The second round of big news coming from Antero Resources today is the sale of the company’s Utica Shale assets. We told you in November that Antero, the largest Marcellus/Utica (M-U) driller in West Virginia, officially began to market its Ohio Utica assets for sale (see Antero Returns to Dry Gas Drilling; Confirms Ohio Utica for Sale). They found a buyer (actually, buyers). Northern Oil and Gas, Inc. (NOG), a company that invests in non-operated oil and gas assets (they let others do the drilling), and Marcellus/Utica driller Infinity Natural Resources (INR) announced a partnership to purchase the Ohio Utica assets of Antero Resources Corporation and Antero Midstream Corporation for a combined purchase price of $1.2 billion in cash. Read More “NOG & INR Partner to Buy Antero Resources’ Ohio Utica for $1.2B”
American Energy Partners Inc. | Belmont County | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Ohio | Regulation | Wastewater

Ohio Judge Rules Against Austin Master Services for $6.2 Million
November 24, 2025November 24, 2025

One of the significant stories of 2024 in the Ohio Utica was about Austin Master Services (AMS), a radiological waste management solutions company in Martins Ferry, Ohio, that processes and transports fracking waste for disposal. AMS ran into trouble when it ran out of money. The Martins Ferry facility in Belmont County, where waste is temporarily stored, had vastly exceeded its permitted limit of 600 tons (storing over 10,000 tons), resulting in a permit violation. The Ohio Attorney General’s office filed a lawsuit against the company in March 2024 to compel compliance and require cleanup of the facility. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) stepped in to handle the cleanup. As of May 2025, cleaning and testing were completed (see Austin Master Services Ohio Frack Waste Cleanup Complete Today). The AG’s office sued for $6 million to cover the cost of cleanup (see ODNR Seeks $6M from Austin Master Services to Cover Cleanup Costs). Last week, a Belmont County court ruled in favor of the state. Read More “Ohio Judge Rules Against Austin Master Services for $6.2 Million”
Armstrong County | Arsenal Resources | Ascent Resources | Beech Resources | Belmont County | Bradford County | Energy Companies | EQT Corp | Expand Energy | Gulfport Energy | Harrison County | Indiana County | INR/Infinity Natural Resources | Lycoming County | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Seneca Resources | Snyder Brothers | Taylor County | Tioga County (PA) | Weekly Permits | West Virginia | Westmoreland County | Wetzel County | XPR Resources

31 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Nov 10 – 16
November 21, 2025November 21, 2025

Back into the 30s! The number of new permits issued in the Marcellus/Utica last week was 31, after being 24 the week before. Over the past five weeks (including last week), the number of new permits issued has been 37, 39, 37, 24, and 31, respectively. Not bad at all. Pennsylvania issued 14 new permits last week, down from 16 the prior week. Ohio issued 5 new permits, down from 6 the prior week. West Virginia, which issued no new permits two weeks ago, soared, issuing 12 permits last week. Read More “31 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Nov 10 – 16”
Ascent Resources | Belmont County | Bradford County | Butler County | Energy Companies | EQT Corp | Expand Energy | Greene County (PA) | Guernsey County | Harrison County | Lycoming County | Marshall County | Ohio | PennEnergy Resources | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania General Energy | Repsol | Seneca Resources | Tioga County (PA) | Weekly Permits | West Virginia

39 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Oct 20 – 26
October 31, 2025November 6, 2025

After the high number of new permits issued two weeks ago, we thought last week the new permit number would sink (fast) for sure. But no! For the week of October 20 – 26, the number of permits issued to drill new wells in the Marcellus/Utica *increased* from the previous week. There were 39 new permits issued across the three M-U states last week, up from the 37 issued two weeks ago. Pennsylvania issued 23 new permits last week, up from 19 the previous week. Ohio issued 11 permits, a slight decrease from 13 two weeks ago. And West Virginia issued 5 new permits, the same number as two weeks ago. Just, wow! Read More “39 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Oct 20 – 26”
Belmont County | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Sand/Proppant

MPR Building New Sand Storage Along Ohio River in Belmont County
October 29, 2025October 29, 2025

Here’s a neat company we haven’t written about in 4 1/2 years: MPR Supply Chain. It’s a family-owned and operated riverfront transloading facility located in Bellaire, Ohio, at mile markers 92.5 and 93.7 on the Ohio River. MPR’s facility is a Gateway Distribution Point, located minutes from major north-south and east-west transportation routes and within 24 hours of two-thirds of the population of both the United States and Canada, including some of the largest material-consuming regions in the country. MPR moves a LOT of frac sand for the Marcellus/Utica industry through its facility, and has been for 10 years. MPR just broke ground on an expansion. Read More “MPR Building New Sand Storage Along Ohio River in Belmont County”
Allegheny County | Ascent Resources | Belmont County | Bradford County | Columbiana County | Energy Companies | EOG Resources | EQT Corp | EXCO Resources | Expand Energy | Gulfport Energy | Harrison County | Hilcorp Energy | JKLM Energy | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Range Resources Corp | Sullivan County | Tioga County (PA) | Tuscarawas County | Washington County | Weekly Permits | West Virginia | Wetzel County

37 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Oct 13 – 19
October 24, 2025October 24, 2025

For the week of October 13 – 19, the number of permits issued to drill new wells in the Marcellus/Utica increased significantly from the previous week. There were 37 new permits issued across the three M-U states last week, up dramatically from the 7 issued two weeks ago. We can’t remember the last time we saw 37 (or more) permits issued. It’s been a looong time (months, at least). Pennsylvania issued 19 new permits. Ohio issued 13 permits. And West Virginia, which had been skunked with no new permits for three consecutive weeks, finally woke up last week (it’s woke!), issuing 5 new permits. Read More “37 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Oct 13 – 19”
Belmont County | Energy Companies | EQT Corp | Gulfport Energy | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Ohio

Judge Won’t Dismiss OH Case re EQT, Gulfport Tapping Pt Pleasant
October 24, 2025October 24, 2025

We happened across a lawsuit we didn’t know about, involving an issue we’ve seen before. A landowner in Belmont County, Ohio, filed a lawsuit in June 2024 alleging that Gulfport Energy, in a joint development agreement with EQT (the lease owner), drilled three wells under the landowner’s property that tapped into the Point Pleasant formation, which sits immediately below the Utica. The landowner said the lease only allows drilling in the Utica and Marcellus and NOT in the Point Pleasant. Read More “Judge Won’t Dismiss OH Case re EQT, Gulfport Tapping Pt Pleasant”
Armstrong County | Ascent Resources | Belmont County | Bradford County | Energy Companies | EOG Resources | EQT Corp | Expand Energy | Harrison County | Indiana County | INR/Infinity Natural Resources | Lycoming County | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Range Resources Corp | Snyder Brothers | Sullivan County | Washington County | Weekly Permits

32 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Sep 29 – Oct 5
October 9, 2025October 9, 2025

For the week of September 29 to October 5, the number of permits issued to drill new wells in the Marcellus/Utica increased from the previous week. There were 32 new permits issued across the three M-U states last week, up five from 27 issued two weeks ago. Last week, Pennsylvania issued 27 drilling permits across six counties—the highest weekly total the state has recorded in months, possibly even over a year. Ohio issued five permits in two counties. West Virginia was skunked last week, issuing no new permits for the second consecutive week. What’s up with WV? Read More “32 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Sep 29 – Oct 5”
Ascent Resources | Beaver County | Belmont County | Carroll County | Coterra Energy (Cabot O&G) | Encino Energy | Energy Companies | EOG Resources | EQT Corp | Greene County (PA) | Guernsey County | JKLM Energy | Noble County | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Range Resources Corp | Susquehanna County | Tioga County (PA) | Washington County | Weekly Permits

27 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Sep 22 – 28
October 3, 2025October 3, 2025

For the week of September 22 – 29, the number of permits issued to drill new wells in the Marcellus/Utica increased from the previous week. There were 27 new permits issued across the three M-U states last week, up three from 24 issued two weeks ago. Pennsylvania issued 18 permits in four counties. Ohio issued nine permits, also in four counties. West Virginia got skunked last week, issuing zero new permits. Read More “27 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Sep 22 – 28”
Belmont County | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Regulation

Request to Drill Under (Not On) OH’s Jockey Hollow Wildlife Area
October 1, 2025October 1, 2025

In January 2023, Ohio House Bill (HB) 507 became law with the signature of Gov. Mike DeWine (see OH Gov. Signs Bill Expanding Drilling in State Parks, NatGas “Green”). The law allows shale drilling under (but not on top of) Ohio state-owned land, including state parks and wildlife areas. HB 507 encourages (pushes for) more drilling under state-owned land. The special commission created to award contracts — called the Ohio Oil & Gas Land Management Commission (OGLMC) — met in September 2023 to consider 12+ “nominations” (requests to drill) received (see Ohio Comm. Says 12.5% Royalties for State Land Drilling Too Cheap). Since that time, environmentalists have been apoplectic at the prospect of drilling under state-owned land with every new request. It’s happening again with a request to drill under (not on) 1,460 acres of Jockey Hollow Wildlife Area in Belmont County. Read More “Request to Drill Under (Not On) OH’s Jockey Hollow Wildlife Area”
Allegheny County | Antero Resources | Arsenal Resources | Ascent Resources | Beaver County | Beech Resources | Belmont County | Brooke County | Energy Companies | Expand Energy | Gulfport Energy | Harrison County | Lycoming County | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Range Resources Corp | Ritchie County | Taylor County | Washington County | Weekly Permits | West Virginia

24 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Sep 15 – 21
September 26, 2025September 26, 2025

For the week of September 15 – 21, the number of permits issued to drill new wells in the Marcellus/Utica decreased from the previous week, but not by much. There were 24 new permits issued across the three M-U states last week, down from 26 issued two weeks ago. Pennsylvania finally improved a bit, but only because of one driller. PA issued 11 new permits last week, with 10 of the 11 going to Range Resources. Range’s permits were spread across three counties, with one permit in Allegheny, five in Beaver, and four in Washington. The other PA permit went to Beech Resources for a well in Lycoming County. Read More “24 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Sep 15 – 21”
Antero Resources | Arsenal Resources | Ascent Resources | Belmont County | Bradford County | Carroll County | Coterra Energy (Cabot O&G) | Energy Companies | EOG Resources | Expand Energy | Guernsey County | INR/Infinity Natural Resources | Marion Natural Energy | Monongalia County | Noble County | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Susquehanna County | Taylor County | Tyler County | Weekly Permits | West Virginia

26 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Sep 8 – 14
September 19, 2025September 19, 2025

For the week of September 8 – 14, the number of permits issued to drill new wells in the Marcellus/Utica increased from the previous week. There were 26 new permits issued across the three M-U states last week, more than doubling the 11 issued two weeks ago. For the second week in a row, Pennsylvania’s permit take was pathetic. PA issued just two new permits last week, after issuing three two weeks ago. Expand Energy received one permit in Bradford County, and Coterra Energy received the other permit in Susquehanna County (both counties in northeastern PA). Read More “26 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Sep 8 – 14”
Antero Resources | Belmont County | Bradford County | Columbiana County | Doddridge County | Encino Energy | Energy Companies | EQT Corp | Expand Energy | Greene County (PA) | Grenadier Energy | Harrison County | Hilcorp Energy | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Range Resources Corp | Washington County | Weekly Permits | West Virginia

11 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Sep 1 – 7
September 12, 2025September 12, 2025

For the week of September 1 – 7, the number of permits issued to drill new wells in the Marcellus/Utica decreased from the previous week. There were 11 new permits issued across the three M-U states last week, down from 19 issued two weeks ago (and way down from 30 issued three weeks ago). Pennsylvania issued just three new permits, with one each going to Expand Energy, EQT Corporation, and Range Resources in Bradford, Greene, and Washington counties, respectively. Read More “11 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Sep 1 – 7”