Lake Michigan Formation in Illinois: Operators, Permits & Activity 2026

Formation data coverage

Formation summary: Stored source refresh: 2026-09-16. This formation/play summary uses recorded well and operator counts and permit dates in the preceding 24 months at summary refresh. Operator counts do not verify current operations. Summary counts and the separately refreshed permit and DUC lists may have different coverage. This is a capped directory of stored records, not a complete statewide count. Permit list: No stored records are available in this view; this does not establish zero activity. At most 50 displayed permit records match the formation name, ordered by permit date. This operator-linked list can differ from the summary permit count; a permit is not proof of drilling or production. This is a capped directory of stored records, not a complete statewide count. DUC list: No stored records are available in this view; this does not establish zero activity. At most 30 displayed records match the formation name, ordered by spud date. A spud date with no reported first production is a DUC proxy, not verified completion status. Elapsed days are computed at source refresh. This is a capped directory of stored records, not a complete statewide count.

Formation summary source

Stored source refresh: 2026-09-16. This formation/play summary uses recorded well and operator counts and permit dates in the preceding 24 months at summary refresh. Operator counts do not verify current operations. Summary counts and the separately refreshed permit and DUC lists may have different coverage. This is a capped directory of stored records, not a complete statewide count.

Compiled from Illinois Department of Natural Resources records through a commercial well-data aggregator. Scheduled refreshes do not guarantee that new regulator filings are available. Use the source records to check a specific well.

Permit-list source

No stored records are available in this view; this does not establish zero activity. At most 50 displayed permit records match the formation name, ordered by permit date. This operator-linked list can differ from the summary permit count; a permit is not proof of drilling or production. This is a capped directory of stored records, not a complete statewide count.

DUC-list source

No stored records are available in this view; this does not establish zero activity. At most 30 displayed records match the formation name, ordered by spud date. A spud date with no reported first production is a DUC proxy, not verified completion status. Elapsed days are computed at source refresh. This is a capped directory of stored records, not a complete statewide count.

Total Wells

Recorded Operators

Total Lateral

0 miles

Permits (24mo)

Top Operators in the Lake Michigan (Illinois)

The operators with the most well counts targeting the Lake Michigan formation in Illinois:

#	Operator	Wells in Lake Michigan
1	Illinois State Geological Survey	36
2	Il State Geological Survey	11
3	Hester N C	9
4	Mattheus Spitzer And Pearce	4
5	U S Geological Survey	1

Primary Illinois Counties for the Lake Michigan

The Illinois counties with the most Lake Michigan activity:

Lake, Cook

About the Lake Michigan Formation in Illinois

The Lake Michigan is a formation/play group recorded in Illinois, with 61 wells on file across 5 distinct operators of record. Operators have filed 0 drilling permits targeting the Lake Michigan in the 24-month window at summary refresh. These are stored records, not a live measure of drilling.

Recorded formation activity provides regional context. It does not establish ownership, future production, royalty payments or a value for an individual tract. Consult qualified professionals about your specific interest.

Browse listed Illinois oil & gas formations & plays · Download the Illinois formations dataset (CSV)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many wells target the Lake Michigan formation in Illinois?

61 wells target the Lake Michigan in Illinois, worked by 5 recorded operators, per IDNR well-header records. Summary: Stored source refresh: 2026-09-16. Permit list: No stored records are available in this view; this does not establish zero activity. DUC list: No stored records are available in this view; this does not establish zero activity. The lists have separate coverage limits.

Who are the top operators in the Lake Michigan in Illinois?

By well count, the operators with the most Lake Michigan wells on record in Illinois are Illinois State Geological Survey, Il State Geological Survey, Hester N C, Mattheus Spitzer And Pearce and U S Geological Survey. The full ranking is in the table on this page. Summary: Stored source refresh: 2026-09-16. Permit list: No stored records are available in this view; this does not establish zero activity. DUC list: No stored records are available in this view; this does not establish zero activity. The lists have separate coverage limits.

How active is the Lake Michigan formation right now?

Operators filed 0 drilling permits targeting the Lake Michigan in the 24-month window at source refresh, per IDNR records. Summary: Stored source refresh: 2026-09-16. Permit list: No stored records are available in this view; this does not establish zero activity. DUC list: No stored records are available in this view; this does not establish zero activity. The lists have separate coverage limits.

Is there active drilling in the Lake Michigan in Illinois?

Operators filed 0 new drilling permits targeting the Lake Michigan in Illinois in the 24-month window at source refresh. New permits and spuds record reported activity stages; they do not establish ongoing drilling, per IDNR records. Summary: Stored source refresh: 2026-09-16. Permit list: No stored records are available in this view; this does not establish zero activity. DUC list: No stored records are available in this view; this does not establish zero activity. The lists have separate coverage limits.

What is the current Lake Michigan activity in Illinois?

Lake Michigan activity in Illinois includes 61 wells on record and 5 recorded operators, led by Illinois State Geological Survey, Il State Geological Survey, Hester N C, Mattheus Spitzer And Pearce and U S Geological Survey, with 0 drilling permits filed in the 24-month window at source refresh — from Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) well-header records. Summary: Stored source refresh: 2026-09-16. Permit list: No stored records are available in this view; this does not establish zero activity. DUC list: No stored records are available in this view; this does not establish zero activity. The lists have separate coverage limits.

Which Illinois counties have the most Lake Michigan activity?

The primary counties recorded for Lake Michigan in Illinois are Lake, Cook. Summary: Stored source refresh: 2026-09-16. Permit list: No stored records are available in this view; this does not establish zero activity. DUC list: No stored records are available in this view; this does not establish zero activity. The lists have separate coverage limits.

How do I find out what my Lake Michigan mineral rights are worth?

Value depends on your net mineral acres or royalty decimal, the operator, the remaining drilling locations, and current oil and gas prices. This page is informational only, not a valuation. Summary: Stored source refresh: 2026-09-16. Permit list: No stored records are available in this view; this does not establish zero activity. DUC list: No stored records are available in this view; this does not establish zero activity. The lists have separate coverage limits.