Utica Shale Oil & Gas Production
The Utica is an Ordovician-age shale, with its Point Pleasant interval, that lies thousands of feet beneath the Marcellus. It is developed mainly in eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania, where it produces dry gas, wet gas and condensate in bands that follow the rock's depth and thermal maturity.
Key Figures
| Measure | Value | As of / source |
|---|---|---|
| Active rigs (Utica) | 10 (unchanged wk) | 2026-10-09 · Baker Hughes · 2% of US rigs |
| States | Eastern Ohio, western Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia | EIA |
| Utica and Marcellus together | 35.5 Bcf/d of natural gas (EIA Appalachia region, which combines the two shales) | 2025 · EIA DPR |
| Character | Gas-dominated, with liquids-rich (wet gas and condensate) windows in the west of the play | EIA |
| Regulators | Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Pennsylvania DEP, West Virginia DEP |
Every major US shale basin compared side by side, plus the breakeven-vs-WTI chart, decline curves and water use: how fracking works.
The Utica in the Market
Why it matters
- The Utica shares the Appalachian pipeline network with the Marcellus, so its gas competes for the same takeaway and trades at the same regional prices.
- Its liquids-rich acreage gives producers a revenue stream from natural gas liquids and condensate that dry Marcellus acreage lacks, which matters when gas prices are low.
- The play has been consolidating: several of its largest operators have changed hands in recent years, so check the operator table below and the company directory for current ownership.
What to watch
- Rig activity in the Utica, reported weekly by Baker Hughes and shown on the rig map.
- Appalachian gas basis and pipeline expansions, which set how much of the gas reaches higher-priced markets.
- Ohio's production and storage are on gas production by state and gas storage.
Major Producers in the Utica Shale
| Company | Type | Ownership | Ticker |
|---|---|---|---|
| CNX Resources | Independent producer (public) | Publicly traded. | CNX |
| EOG Resources | Independent producer (public) | Publicly traded; no controlling shareholder. | EOG |
| EQT | Independent producer (public) | Publicly traded; no controlling shareholder. | EQT |
| Expand Energy | Independent producer (public) | Publicly traded; no controlling shareholder. | EXE |
| Ascent Resources | Private producer | Privately held; private-equity sponsors including Energy & Minerals Group (EMG, reported over 30%) and First Reserve are the principal holders, and continuation-vehicle transfers have been disputed by minority investors (reported 2025 to 2026). | — |
| Hilcorp Energy | Private producer | Privately held; founded in 1989 by Jeffery Hildebrand and based in Houston. | — |
Companies with a material producing position in this basin, from the oil company directory (hand-curated from company filings; positions change with deals, so check the latest filing before relying on it). It is not a production ranking.
Utica Shale FAQ
How many rigs are drilling in the Utica Shale?
Baker Hughes counted 10 active rigs in Utica Shale (Utica) in the week of Oct 9, unchanged week on week and 2% of the 603 active US rigs.
Who are the biggest operators in the Utica Shale?
Companies in this site's directory with material producing positions in the Utica Shale include CNX Resources, EOG Resources, EQT, Expand Energy, Ascent Resources, Hilcorp Energy (some hold non-operated interests). Ownership and the other basins each one works are in the producer table above and in the oil company directory.
Is the Utica Shale an oil or gas play?
Mostly gas, with natural gas liquids and condensate in its western, liquids-rich window. It is not a crude-oil play in the way the Permian or Bakken are, and EIA reports its output together with the Marcellus as the Appalachia region.
How is the Utica different from the Marcellus?
The Utica lies much deeper, beneath the Marcellus. That depth makes it hotter and more gas-prone in the east and liquids-rich in the west. The Marcellus is the larger producer; the Utica is concentrated in Ohio.