Noble County

Ascent Resources | Bradford County | Energy Companies | EOG Resources | EQT Corp | Expand Energy | Greene County (PA) | Guernsey County | Harrison County | Monongalia County | Noble County | Northeast Natural Energy | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Weekly Permits | West Virginia

22 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV May 4 – 10
May 15, 2026May 15, 2026

The Marcellus/Utica region received 22 new drilling permits last week, May 4 – 10, up from the 19 permits issued two weeks ago. Pennsylvania issued 10 of last week’s permits. Ohio issued 8 new permits. West Virginia issued 4 new permits last week. The drillers who received new permits included: Ascent Resources, EOG Resources, EQT (including subsidiary Rice Drilling), Expand Energy, and Northeast Natural Energy. Read More “22 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV May 4 – 10”
Earthquakes | Industrywide Issues | Noble County | Ohio

Another Attempt to Tie Shale Fracking to Ohio Earthquakes
April 29, 2026April 29, 2026

Last May, MDN brought you the news that the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) was laying the blame for a series of low-level earthquakes in southeastern Ohio on fracking at a shale well in Noble County (see ODNR Says Fracking in Noble County, OH Caused Series of Earthquakes). We were somewhat incredulous. Most of the time, low-level quakes are tied to injection wells near active faults, not to fracked shale wells. The enviro-left is making the most of it, ginning up angst in and around Noble County, tying fracked shale wells (not injection wells) to a series of low-level quakes in the region. Read More “Another Attempt to Tie Shale Fracking to Ohio Earthquakes”
DeepRock Disposal | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Noble County | Ohio | Wastewater

Insurance Co. Sues OH’s DeepRock $1.15M for Injection Well Cleanup
March 13, 2026March 13, 2026

Just coming to light for us is a lawsuit filed in June 2025 seeking to hold DeepRock Disposal Solutions responsible for the $1.28 million cleanup of a 2021 environmental incident in Noble County. The incident involved fracking brine migrating from a DeepRock injection well into the inactive Gant Well, triggering a massive eruption that contaminated local waterways and killed a couple of hundred fish and salamanders (see Ohio O&G Commission Blames Unplugged Well for Injection Well Leak). Although the Gant Well owner, Genesis, settled with the state for $1.15 million, the company’s insurer is now suing DeepRock to recoup those costs, alleging DeepRock’s negligence caused the leak. Read More “Insurance Co. Sues OH’s DeepRock $1.15M for Injection Well Cleanup”
Antero Resources | Arsenal Resources | Ascent Resources | Doddridge County | Energy Companies | Gulfport Energy | Harrison County | Indiana County | INR/Infinity Natural Resources | Monroe County | Noble County | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Weekly Permits | West Virginia

17 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Feb 16 – 22
February 27, 2026February 27, 2026

The Marcellus/Utica region received a combined 17 new drilling permits last week, Feb. 16 – 22, way down (by 26) from the 43 permits issued two weeks ago. To be fair, 43 permits was one of the highest in recent months, so a slide was expected. What wasn’t expected was that Pennsylvania issued just a single (1) new permit. Ohio issued 8 permits, and West Virginia issued 8 as well. The drillers receiving new permits last week included: Antero Resources, Arsenal Resources, Ascent Resources, Gulfport Energy, and Infinity Natural Resources. Read More “17 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Feb 16 – 22”
Allegheny County | Antero Resources | Carroll County | Energy Companies | EOG Resources | Expand Energy | Monroe County | Noble County | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Range Resources Corp | Susquehanna County | Tyler County | Weekly Permits | West Virginia

13 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Dec 8 – 14
December 19, 2025December 19, 2025

Volatility is the watchword for new permits in the Marcellus/Utica. Three weeks ago, the combined count between Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia was a measly 8 new permits (see 8 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Nov 24 – 30). Two weeks ago, the number soared to the highest we’ve seen for a single week in a long time, maybe ever, at 60 new permits (see 60 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Dec 1 – 7). Last week? For December 8 – 14, the number sank once again, down to 13. PA issued 5 permits, OH issued 7, and WV issued 1 last week. Read More “13 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Dec 8 – 14”
Antero Resources | Beaver County | Beech Resources | Bradford County | Columbiana County | Energy Companies | EOG Resources | Expand Energy | JKLM Energy | Lycoming County | Noble County | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Range Resources Corp | Sabre Energy | Sullivan County | Tioga County (PA) | Washington County | Weekly Permits | West Virginia

24 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Nov 3 – 9
November 14, 2025November 14, 2025

You knew the number of new permits issued in the M-U would come back down to earth sooner or later. Last week it happened. After three consecutive weeks with numbers of 37, 39, and 37, the number of new permits issued fell to 24 last week. Still respectable, but not in the coveted 30s. Pennsylvania issued 16 new permits last week, up from 13 the prior week. Ohio issued 6 new permits, down from 8 the prior week. West Virginia was shut out, issuing no new permits last week, which was the main reason why the number fell precipitously. Read More “24 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Nov 3 – 9”
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”
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 | Ascent Resources | Belmont County | Bradford County | Carroll County | Encino Energy | Energy Companies | EQT Corp | Expand Energy | Marion County | Marion Natural Energy | Monroe County | Noble County | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Range Resources Corp | Tyler County | Washington County | Weekly Permits | West Virginia | Westmoreland County

34 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Jul 28 – Aug 3
August 8, 2025August 8, 2025

For the week of July 28 – August 3, the number of permits issued to drill new wells in the Marcellus/Utica more than doubled from the previous week. There were 34 new permits issued across the three M-U states last week, 20 more than the 14 issued two weeks ago. The Keystone State (PA) issued 15 new permits. Both EQT and Range Resources received six permits each for single well pads in Westmoreland and Washington counties, respectively. Expand Energy received three permits for a pad in Bradford County. Read More “34 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Jul 28 – Aug 3”
Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Monroe County | Noble County | Ohio | Regulation | Washington County (OH)

Big Green Sues to Block Leasing & Drilling in OH National Forest
August 1, 2025August 1, 2025

click for larger version

Did you know that there are federal lands in the Marcellus/Utica? The Wayne National Forest (WNF) is a patchwork of public and private mineral rights that covers over a quarter of a million acres of the Appalachian foothills in southeastern Ohio. For years, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), under Democrat presidents, blocked new permits and shale drilling in WNF. During the first Trump administration, the BLM began to auction off federal leases and permits. However, Big Green sued, and a federal judge blocked drilling in WNF in 2021, after President Autopen took office. The BLM in the second Trump administration recently announced it has restarted the leasing process in WNF (see Trump BLM Restarts O&G Leasing in Ohio’s Wayne National Forest). Big Green is hoping it can stop any new leasing or drilling with another lawsuit. Read More “Big Green Sues to Block Leasing & Drilling in OH National Forest”
Allegheny County | Antero Resources | Ascent Resources | Encino Energy | Energy Companies | EOG Resources | EQT Corp | Expand Energy | Greene County (PA) | Guernsey County | Gulfport Energy | Harrison County | Indiana County | INR/Infinity Natural Resources | Marion County | Monroe County | Noble County | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Range Resources Corp | Weekly Permits | West Virginia | Wetzel County | Wyoming County (PA)

17 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Jul 14 – 20
July 25, 2025July 25, 2025

For the week of July 14 – 20, the number of permits issued to drill new wells in the Marcellus/Utica decreased from the previous week. There were 17 new permits issued across the three M-U states last week, four fewer than the 21 issued two weeks ago. The Keystone State (PA) issued just four new permits. All were single permits. Range Resources received its permit for a well in Allegheny County. EQT got a permit for a well in Greene County. Infinity Natural Resources’ (INR) permit was in Indiana County. And Expand Energy’s permit was in Wyoming County. Read More “17 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Jul 14 – 20”
Earthquakes | Encino Energy | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Noble County | Ohio | Regulation

New Permits Near OH Earthquake Site Require Seismic Monitoring
June 4, 2025June 4, 2025

A few weeks ago, MDN brought you the news that the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) is laying the blame for a series of low-level earthquakes in southeastern Ohio on fracking at an Encino Energy shale well in Noble County (see ODNR Says Fracking in Noble County, OH Caused Series of Earthquakes). We were somewhat incredulous. We can count on one hand the number of verified instances when fracking itself (not injection wells) has caused earthquake activity. Yet it appears to be so in this instance, with all future fracking at this site blocked (see Fracking Halted at Encino Pad in Ohio Linked to Earthquakes). The ODNR is now saying, “Any future permits to drill a well that may be issued in the area of this seismicity will include seismic monitoring terms and conditions.” Read More “New Permits Near OH Earthquake Site Require Seismic Monitoring”
Earthquakes | Encino Energy | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Noble County | Ohio | Regulation

Fracking Halted at Encino Pad in Ohio Linked to Earthquakes
May 15, 2025May 15, 2025

Yesterday, MDN brought you the news that the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) is laying the blame for a series of low-level earthquakes in southeastern Ohio on fracking at a shale well in Noble County (see ODNR Says Fracking in Noble County, OH Caused Series of Earthquakes). We were/are somewhat incredulous. Most of the time, low-level quakes are tied to injection wells near active faults, not to wells being fracked. However, a new news report says ODNR has halted fracking at the suspect well while it investigates. Read More “Fracking Halted at Encino Pad in Ohio Linked to Earthquakes”
Earthquakes | Guernsey County | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Noble County | Ohio | Regulation

ODNR Says Fracking in Noble County, OH Caused Series of Earthquakes
May 14, 2025May 14, 2025

A series of earthquakes (low level, sometimes felt, most of the time not felt) have hit Guernsey and Noble counties in eastern Ohio. According to the latest news we can find, some five quakes have hit since April 22, and another couple of quakes hit earlier in the year, in January/February. There is an existing fault line in the area, near Cambridge, known as the Burning Springs-Cambridge fault zone, formed more than 4.6 million years ago. So, earthquakes in the region are not unknown. The question is, why this most recent flurry? The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) claims it’s tied to oil and gas activity in the area. Read More “ODNR Says Fracking in Noble County, OH Caused Series of Earthquakes”
Allegheny County | Ascent Resources | Carroll County | Encino Energy | Energy Companies | EOG Resources | EQT Corp | Fayette County | Greene County (PA) | Jefferson County (OH) | Lycoming County | Noble County | Ohio | Olympus/Huntley & Huntley | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania General Energy | Range Resources Corp | Seneca Resources | Tioga County (PA) | Washington County | Weekly Permits

33 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Apr 14 – 20
April 25, 2025April 25, 2025

Last week was another strong week for new permits issued to drill new shale wells in the Marcellus/Utica. For the week of April 14 – 20, the number of permits was down three from the previous week, but still very strong. Last week, 33 new permits were issued in the M-U. In the Keystone State (PA), 25 new permits were issued, a dramatic increase from five two weeks ago. The top permittee was Range Resources, with 10 permits, half of which were in Allegheny County and the other half in Washington County. Seneca Resources received six permits, all of which were in Tioga County. EQT and its subsidiary Rice Drilling also scored six permits, with four in Fayette County and two in Greene County. PA General Energy got two permits in Lycoming County, and Olympus Energy received one permit in Allegheny County. Read More “33 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Apr 14 – 20”
Industrywide Issues | Monroe County | Noble County | Ohio | Regulation | Washington County (OH)

Trump BLM Restarts O&G Leasing in Ohio’s Wayne National Forest
April 22, 2025April 22, 2025

Wayne National Forest units (click for larger version)

Did you know that there are federal lands in the Marcellus/Utica? The Wayne National Forest (WNF) is a patchwork of public and private mineral rights that covers over a quarter of a million acres of the Appalachian foothills in southeastern Ohio. For years, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) blocked new permits and shale drilling in WNF. During the first Trump administration, the BLM began to auction off federal leases and permits (see our stories about BLM auctions in WNF here). However, a federal judge blocked drilling in WNF in 2021, after Biden seized control of the White House (see Federal Judge Blocks Permits to Drill in OH’s Wayne Natl Forest). The long nightmare of Joementia is now over. The BLM in the second Trump administration recently announced it has restarted the leasing process in WNF. Read More “Trump BLM Restarts O&G Leasing in Ohio’s Wayne National Forest”