Study Says 93-Mile Ohio “Lake to River” Gas Pipeline is Doable
Thirteen months ago, MDN told you Ohio had just handed the Eastgate Regional Council of Governments $250,000 to find out whether a natural gas pipeline could be built up the middle of State Route 11, from the Ohio River at East Liverpool all the way north to Lake Erie at Ashtabula (see OH Spending $250K to Study Utica to Lake Erie Pipe for LNG Exports). Yesterday the answer landed. The 142-page “Lake to River: Oil & Gas Pipeline Feasibility Study” (full copy below), prepared by consulting firm Verdantas, says yes — a 93-mile line is technically buildable inside the existing state right-of-way, would move up to 3 billion cubic feet per day, and would cost up to $1.36 billion. What it doesn’t have yet is a builder or a customer. Read More “Study Says 93-Mile Ohio “Lake to River” Gas Pipeline is Doable”
Ohio’s Utica shale boom ignited around 2011 in northeastern counties, with Carroll County emerging as the epicenter of early drilling. Operators like Chesapeake Energy targeted the oil and liquids-rich “wet gas” windows in Carroll, Columbiana, and Harrison counties. However, as operators refined their geologic understanding, they discovered the formation’s most prolific “dry gas” window lay to the southeast. Development steadily migrated toward Belmont, Monroe, Jefferson, and Guernsey counties, where deeper, overpressured rock formations yielded massive volumes of natural gas. By the mid-2010s, these southern counties dominated Ohio’s Utica production, eclipsing the northern pioneers that first proved the play’s potential. However, three years ago, Encino Energy “cracked the code” on Ohio Utica oil drilling, and activity began migrating north again (see 
Ohio’s Utica/Point Pleasant shale production reached a record 48 million barrels of oil in 2025, a 39% increase from the previous year. While natural gas output remained stable at 2 trillion cubic feet, oil volumes have tripled since 2021. This surge was fueled by high-performing wells in the Northern Tier, specifically Columbiana and Mahoning counties, largely driven by EOG Resources and Encino Energy (which EOG bought in mid-2025 for $5.6 billion). Although southern hubs like Harrison and Carroll counties remain major producers, the expansion into northern regions highlights a significant shift in Ohio’s energy landscape and drilling success. Go North, young molecule! 
The combined number of new permits issued to drill shale wells across the Marcellus/Utica region was 26 for the week of Dec. 22 – 28, more than double the 12 issued two weeks ago. Pennsylvania issued 15 new permits, Ohio issued 6, and West Virginia issued 5. Among the companies receiving new permits were Antero, EOG, EQT, Hilcorp, INR, and Range Resources. 
Wow! Is this the Trump effect? For the week of Jan 13 – 19, permits issued in the Marcellus/Utica to drill new shale wells achieved levels we haven’t seen in, oh, about four years. There were 41 new permits issued last week, up significantly from 27 issued the week before and 30 issued two weeks before. The Keystone State (PA) issued a whopping 25 new permits, with 17 (!) going to EQT spread across Greene and Washington counties. Another six permits went to Chesapeake Energy (now Expand Energy) in Bradford County. One permit each went to Range Resources and Apex Energy in Beaver and Westmoreland counties, respectively. 
