Magnum Hunter plans at least four Utica test wells in Ohio

Magnum Hunter Resources Corp. said it intends to drill a minimum of four Utica test wells in Ohio this year. If results are similar to those experienced by offset operators in the area, then further development on the leasehold position is planned later in the year.

Triad Hunter LLC, a Magnum Hunter subsidiary, is building its first Utica pad in Washington County, Ohio, that will be designed for potentially drilling four horizontal wells.

The first well will be a vertical pilot for extensive logging and coring with plans to plug back and drill a 6,000-ft lateral in the Point Pleasant portion of the Utica. The well will be fracture stimulated and tested. Plans are to spud this first well in late February or early March.

Triad Hunter has mineral rights on about 107,000 gross acres (81,000 net acres) of Utica potential, largely held by production. About 41,000 gross acres (26,514 net acres) are deemed to be in the wet gas window.

Three additional Utica-Point Pleasant wells are planned in conjunction with a joint operating agreement with Eclipse Resources I LP to form three drilling units in Monroe County, Ohio. Production from these Utica wells, along with the 12 Marcellus wells will be gathered and delivered to the MarkWest processing facility at Mobley, W.Va. This will be accomplished by laying three separate pipelines in the same right-of-way. One for wet gas, one for dry gas, and one for produced liquids to be separated at a central facility.

Anticipating favorable results, Magnum Hunter already commissioned engineering drawings and preparation on two additional Utica pads. The Crooked Tree pad in Noble County, Ohio is being designed around the potential for 10 horizontal wells, five updip, and five downdip. The Woodchopper pad in Washington County, Ohio is being designed for four Point Pleasant horizontal wells.