Gas production in Ohio’s Utica region has increased from 155 million cubic feet per day in January 2012 to an estimated 1.3 billion cubic feet per day in September 2014, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). The EIA attributes the boom in production to increased drilling productivity and more drilling activity. Average monthly production from new wells per rig has grown from 0.3 million cubic feet per day in January 2012 to an estimated 5 million cubic feet per day in August 2014.
The EIA notes that the rate of drilling productivity growth in the Utica has outpaced that of the Haynesville region from 2009 to 2011 and the Marcellus region from 2010 to 2012. Total drilling productivity in the Utica, however, still lags behind the Marcellus and the Haynesville. Increases in drilling activity in the Utica have been relatively modest — there were fewer than 10 rigs drilling in the Utica prior to 2012, but that number has stabilized between 20 and 25 rigs since early 2013.
The EIA also noted the rapid growth in natural gas processing capacity in the Utica since last year, allowing more gas to flow through interstate pipelines.
SEE ALSO: American Energy, Regency to build $500 million Utica gas pipeline
