# Ohio County Oil and Gas Drilling Activity Rankings

**TL;DR:** This page ranks all 88 Ohio counties by oil and gas drilling metrics—total wells, recent permits, recent spuds, drilled-but-uncompleted wells (DUCs), producing wells, top operator, and dominant formation. Washington County leads with 17,761 total wells, followed by Monroe (12,553) and Perry (12,117). The Utica Shale dominates activity in eastern counties, while Cincinnati Arch formations appear in western/central Ohio. Data refreshes monthly from ODNR records and is current as of July 2026.

---

## Key Takeaways

- **Washington County leads Ohio** with 17,761 total wells, 146 permits in the past 24 months, and Stonebridge Operating Company as the top operator targeting the Utica formation.
- **1,371 permits** were issued across Ohio in the past 24 months, but only **23 wells were spudded** in the past 90 days, indicating a significant slowdown in active drilling.
- **Monroe, Perry, Morgan, and Muskingum counties** round out the top five, each with over 10,000 total wells and heavy Utica Shale exposure.
- **Harrison, Guernsey, Carroll, and Belmont counties** show the most recent activity, with 7–116 recent permits and 2–7 spuds in the past 90 days, concentrated in the Utica core.
- **The Utica Shale** is the dominant formation in 30+ counties, while the **Cincinnati Arch** dominates western Ohio counties like Hancock, Allen, and Auglaize.
- **Legacy vertical wells** in counties like Hancock (9,787 total wells, 0 producing) and Wood (7,513 total wells, 26 producing) represent historical drilling with minimal current production.
- **DUC inventory** (drilled-but-uncompleted wells) is highest in Ashland (3,695), Perry (3,086), and Licking (2,974) counties, representing potential future production.
- **EOG Ohio, LLC** is the top operator in Harrison and Carroll counties, while smaller operators dominate in legacy fairways and non-core areas.

---

## Page Highlights

**County Rankings Table:** Comprehensive table listing all 88 Ohio counties sorted by total wells, showing permits (24 months), spuds (90 days), DUCs, producing wells, top operator, and dominant formation. Washington County leads; smaller counties like Brown and Warren have fewer than 25 total wells.

**Top-Tier Counties:** Washington, Monroe, Perry, Morgan, and Muskingum counties represent Ohio's most prolific drilling zones, driven by horizontal Utica Shale development and operators like Stonebridge, Graymarr, Kenoil, and Eco Power Crypto.

**Utica Shale Dominance:** The Utica formation appears as the top play in 30+ counties across eastern and central Ohio, reflecting the modern horizontal drilling boom that began in the early 2010s.

**Cincinnati Arch & Legacy Plays:** Western and northwestern Ohio counties (Hancock, Allen, Wood, Auglaize) are dominated by Cincinnati Arch formations and legacy vertical drilling, with minimal recent activity.

**About This Data Section:** Data sourced from Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) well-header records, aggregated by county and refreshed monthly. Only counties with at least 10 wells are ranked. Drilling activity is the geographic foundation of mineral-rights valuation in Ohio.

**Quick Stats Sidebar:** State: Ohio | 88 counties ranked | 273,114 total wells | 1,371 recent permits | Last refresh: July 5, 2026.

---

## Related Topics

- [Top Oklahoma Operators Leaderboard](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/top-operators-oklahoma)
- [Oklahoma County Drilling Activity Rankings](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/county-drilling-activity-oklahoma)
- [Oklahoma Formations & Plays Directory](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/oklahoma-formations)
- [Largest US Operators — National Leaderboard](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/largest-us-operators)
- [Texas Industry Snapshot](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/texas-industry-snapshot)
- [Oklahoma Oil & Gas Industry Snapshot Dashboard](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/oklahoma-industry-snapshot)
- [Browse the Full Operator Directory](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/operator-directory)
- [Live Oil & Gas Prices (WTI + Henry Hub)](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/oil-gas-prices)

---

## About Buckhead Energy

Buckhead Energy is a mineral rights acquisition company that purchases oil and gas royalties and minerals across the United States. We provide transparent, data-driven valuations based on production history, operator activity, and geologic context.

**Ready to sell your Ohio mineral rights?** [Get your free written offer today](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/sell) — in any county, any formation.