By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, July 10 – The New York Department of Environmental Conservation issued three permits to a partner of Gastem Inc., Montreal, to drill wildcats to Ordovician Utica shale in west-central New York.
Two of the permits issued to Covalent Energy Corp., Arlington, how called Utica Energy, are for wells near Springfield in northern Otsego County. Gastem USA plans to begin drilling as soon as possible.
The wells are to core the Devonian Marcellus shale and log the full vertical interval including the Silurian Oneida formation.
Studies compiled by Gastem’s experienced Utica Geology Team on both successful Utica Energy test wells drilled in 2007 along with related area shale characteristics accumulated over the past year have confirmed the potential of the area, Gastem said.