3,692 wells across 336 recorded operators, with 15 drilling permits filed in the 24-month window at summary refresh.
Buckhead Energy analysis of public oil and gas data. Formation summary date: 2026-11-01.
Quick answer: The Wisconsin Arch formation in Illinois has 3,692 wells on record across 336 recorded operators, with 15 drilling permits filed in the 24-month window at source refresh. Its operators with the most wells on record are Il State Geological Survey, Natural Gas Pipeline Co. Of America, Vickery Drilling, Northern Illinois Gas Company and Natural Gas Storage Company Of Il. Source: Buckhead Energy analysis of public oil and gas data. Formation summary date: 2026-11-01.
The operators with the most well counts targeting the Wisconsin Arch formation in Illinois:
| # | Operator | Wells in Wisconsin Arch |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Il State Geological Survey | 421 |
| 2 | Natural Gas Pipeline CO Of America | 411 |
| 3 | Vickery Drilling | 404 |
| 4 | Northern Illinois Gas Company | 314 |
| 5 | Natural Gas Storage Company Of Il | 176 |
| 6 | Wang Engineering | 145 |
| 7 | Central Il Electric | 135 |
| 8 | Alco Oil & Gas | 112 |
| 9 | Bays Carl A Etal | 87 |
| 10 | Peoples Gas & Companyke Company | 81 |
The Illinois counties with the most Wisconsin Arch activity:
Will, Mc Henry, Kane, Winnebago, Du Page
Drilling permits in Illinois each year, the Wisconsin Arch count and share of them, and the median lateral length of those Wisconsin Arch permits.
| Year | State permits | This formation | Share | Median lateral |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 190 | <3 | — | n<5 |
| 2025 | 247 | 6 | 2.4% | n<5 |
| 2024 | 309 | 8 | 2.6% | n<5 |
| 2023 | 238 | <3 | — | n<5 |
| 2022 | 325 | <3 | — | n<5 |
| 2021 | 262 | <3 | — | n<5 |
| 2020 | 207 | 5 | 2.4% | n<5 |
| 2019 | 405 | <3 | — | n<5 |
Share of each year’s Illinois drilling permits by target formation, for the formations with the most permits.
| Year | Illinois Basin | Wisconsin Arch |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 100% | — |
| 2025 | 97.6% | 2.4% |
| 2024 | 97.4% | 2.6% |
| 2023 | 100% | — |
| 2022 | 100% | — |
| 2021 | 100% | — |
| 2020 | 97.6% | 2.4% |
| 2019 | 100% | — |
Buckhead Energy computes every figure on this page from grouped records in public oil and gas data. The page shows counts, sums, percentiles and indexes only; it does not list individual wells, leases or permits.
Counts under 3 wells and percentiles under 5 wells are withheld; totals are floors.
Share is the formation’s permits as a percent of the state’s permits that year. Median lateral length is published only when at least 5 permits stand behind it.
Last computed: 2026-11-01. These figures are informational only and are not a valuation of any mineral or royalty interest.
The Wisconsin Arch is a formation/play group recorded in Illinois, with 3,692 wells on file across 336 distinct operators of record. Operators have filed 15 drilling permits targeting the Wisconsin Arch 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.
3,692 wells target the Wisconsin Arch in Illinois, worked by 336 recorded operators, per Buckhead Energy analysis of public oil and gas data. Formation summary date: 2026-11-01.
The Wisconsin Arch operators with the most wells on record in Illinois are Il State Geological Survey, Natural Gas Pipeline Co. Of America, Vickery Drilling, Northern Illinois Gas Company and Natural Gas Storage Company Of Il. The full ranking is in the table on this page. Formation summary date: 2026-11-01.
Operators filed 15 drilling permits targeting the Wisconsin Arch in the 24-month window at source refresh, per Buckhead Energy analysis of public oil and gas data. Formation summary date: 2026-11-01.
Operators filed 15 new drilling permits targeting the Wisconsin Arch 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 Buckhead Energy analysis of public oil and gas data. Formation summary date: 2026-11-01.
Wisconsin Arch activity in Illinois includes 3,692 wells on record and 336 recorded operators, with 15 drilling permits filed in the 24-month window at source refresh — from Buckhead Energy analysis of public oil and gas data. Formation summary date: 2026-11-01.
The primary counties recorded for Wisconsin Arch in Illinois are Will, Mc Henry, Kane, Winnebago, Du Page. Formation summary date: 2026-11-01.
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. Formation summary date: 2026-11-01.
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Get Your Free Written OfferFormation: Wisconsin Arch
State: Illinois
Total wells: 3,692
Recorded operators: 336
Permits 24mo: 15
Summary date: 2026-11-01
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