Gulfport Energy reports Utica production gains
Gulfport Energy Corp. of Oklahoma City brought onstream 22 wells in Eastern Ohio's Utica shale during late 2014 of which 12 were within the wet gas window, 6 were in the condensate window, and 4 were within the dry gas window.
In early January, Gulfport had six horizontal rigs drilling in the Utica. It estimated 68,000 boe/d in net production companywide as of Dec. 31, 2014, saying 73% was natural gas and 27% was oil and natural gas liquids.
Gulfport estimated its fourth-quarter net production at 5.5 million boe. Michael G. Moore, Gulfport's chief executive officer and president, attributed the production gain to consistency and efficiency.
The company planned to outline its 2015 capital spending plans during a conference call scheduled for Feb. 26. Fourth-quarter and full-year 2014 results were expected to be released Feb. 25.
EV Energy Partners to sell Utica assets
EV Energy Partners plans to sell some of its Utica shale assets in East Ohio along with its 21% interest in Utica East Ohio, which operates gas processing plants in Columbiana and Carroll counties and a liquids-separating plant in Harrison County.
John Walker, EV Energy Partners chairman, said the value of leases has increased significantly because the company has "enough drilling activity and consistent results."
Separately, EV Energy and eight partners drilled an experimental oil well in Tuscarawas County near Uhrichsville. Fracturing was done using liquid butane and mineral oil. Details of the well's results were expected in a few months, executives said in early January.
The oil window of the Eastern Ohio Utica is believed to involve Portage, Stark, Trumbull, Tuscarawas, Holmes, Coshocton, Guernsey, Muskingum, Perry, Morgan, Athens, Vinton, and Hocking counties.
Stone drills successful Utica exploration well
Stone Energy Corp, Lafayette, La., said its Pribble 6HU well in Wetzel County, W.Va., flowed from a 3,605-ft lateral at an average gas sales rate of 30 MMcfd for the last 24 hr of a 5-day test.
The well, in which Stone has 90% working interest, produced on a 28/64-in. choke with 6,500 psi. Drilled to 11,350-ft TVD, the well was completed in the Point Pleasant formation with 17 fracture stages using 210-ft spacing between each stage.
This test flow calculated to a rate of 8 MMcfd per 1,000 ft lateral length for the test well.
"Results from the Pribble 6HU well confirm the high potential of the Utica shale underlying our current liquids-rich Marcellus acreage position," said David H. Welch, Stone chairman, president, and chief executive officer.
"This well, along with the numerous third-party Utica tests surrounding our acreage, has significantly derisked our Utica position," Welch said.
Stone Energy, which has nearly 30,000 acres in Mary field, signed a contract for a new dual-purpose Utica-Marcellus drilling rig with delivery expected in late 2015.
First Energy upgrades Ohio Edison system
FirstEnergy Corp. completed $6 million in transmission projects and is evaluating additional system upgrades across its Ohio Edison service area to meet rising electric demand from Utica gas producers.
A diversified company owning electric distribution companies, FirstEnergy said it continues to receive new service requests from gas developers.
Recent upgrades, including a high-voltage substation and transmission lines, were built to accommodate gas processing plants. The upgrades are expected to ultimately generate about 125 Mw.
"The shale gas industry is creating new jobs and helping restore economic prosperity to portions of our service territory," said Randall A. Frame, regional president of Ohio Edison.
Recent completions also include a $3 million substation upgrade in southern Columbiana County to serve Utica East Ohio's Kensington processing plant.
Other upgrades included a 3.5-mile, 138-kv transmission line to serve a Pennant Midstream natural gas processing plant in Springfield Township in Mahoning County. The nearly $3 million transmission project connects with an existing 138-kv transmission line in Mahoning County and allows for future expansion. at the Pennant gas-separation plant.