The Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ recently published 2018 second quarter production totals show continued oil and gas production growth in the Buckeye State. Oil production reached nearly 4.5 million barrels this past quarter and is up 11 percent over the second quarter of 2017 and 14 percent over the first quarter of 2018. Natural gas production increased to an astounding 554 billion cubic feet in the second quarter, which is 42 percent over second quarter 2017 totals and 4 percent over what was reported in the first quarter of this year.

This past quarter saw 2,002 producing wells out of a total 2,035 horizontal shale wells that on average:

• Produced 2,242 barrels of oil.
• Produced 276,877 Mcf of natural gas.
• Were in production 85 days during the quarter.

The top three natural gas producing counties this quarter were once again Monroe, Belmont and Jefferson – with Harrison County cracking the top four with the fifth highest producing natural gas well in the state. Ascent Resources had eight of the top 10 highest producing natural gas wells, including the four highest producers overall.

Similarly, Guernsey and Harrison counties continue to have the highest producing oil wells in 2018, with Eclipse Resources having six of Ohio’s top 10 highest oil producers.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration also released a new report today that describes how the Appalachian Basin continues to drive U.S. natural gas production growth. ODNR’s data only further confirms that Ohio’s growing oil and natural gas industry has played a key role in this trend, and by all accounts appears it will continue to do so into the future.