West Virginia

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Jan. 21 – Gastar Exploration Ltd., Houston, said its first vertical Marcellus well just south of the West Virginia panhandle proved the company’s belief that areas where the shale is thinner can yield “excellent results.”

The James Yoho-1 well, in the Green district of Wetzel County, stabilized at 1.5 MMcfd of gas and 120 b/d of condensate with 1,000 psi flowing tubing pressure. It cut 46 ft of Marcellus shale and was completed with a single-stage frac.

Gastar has 100% working interest and has acquired 36,000 net acres in northern West Virginia and southwestern Pennsylvania. Its longer-term development will be geared toward horizontal drilling.