{
  "name": "West Virginia Oil & Gas Formations and Plays, Ranked by Well Count",
  "publisher": "Buckhead Energy",
  "url": "https://www.buckheadenergy.com/formations-west-virginia",
  "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "doi": "https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21442884",
  "dataAsOf": "2026-08-24",
  "count": 7,
  "formations": [
    {
      "state": "WV",
      "formationSlug": "marcellus",
      "formationName": "Marcellus",
      "wellCount": 57717,
      "activeOperators": 1190,
      "totalLateralFt": "16527566",
      "recentPermits24Mo": 248,
      "primaryCounties": "KANAWHA, DODDRIDGE, HARRISON, RITCHIE, CALHOUN",
      "topOperators": [
        {
          "name": "DIVERSIFIED PRODUCTION LLC",
          "slug": "diversified-production-llc",
          "wells": 13774
        },
        {
          "name": "WV MINERAL GROUP LLC",
          "slug": "wv-mineral-group-llc",
          "wells": 1982
        },
        {
          "name": "PILLAR ENERGY",
          "slug": "pillar-energy",
          "wells": 1811
        },
        {
          "name": "EQT PRODUCTION COMPANY",
          "slug": "eqt-production-company",
          "wells": 1613
        },
        {
          "name": "EASTERN GAS TRANSMISSION AND STORAGE INC",
          "slug": "eastern-gas-transmission-and-storage-inc",
          "wells": 1595
        },
        {
          "name": "CONSOLIDATION COAL COMPANY",
          "slug": "consolidation-coal-company",
          "wells": 1375
        },
        {
          "name": "GREYLOCK CONVENTIONAL",
          "slug": "greylock-conventional",
          "wells": 1087
        },
        {
          "name": "ROSS AND WHARTON GAS COMPANY",
          "slug": "ross-and-wharton-gas-company",
          "wells": 810
        },
        {
          "name": "COLUMBIA NATURAL RESOURCES",
          "slug": "columbia-natural-resources",
          "wells": 792
        },
        {
          "name": "EAST RESOURCES",
          "slug": "east-resources",
          "wells": 759
        }
      ],
      "dataAsOf": "2026-08-24"
    },
    {
      "state": "WV",
      "formationSlug": "appalachian-basin-eastern-overthrust-area",
      "formationName": "Appalachian Basin - (Eastern Overthrust Area)",
      "wellCount": 16965,
      "activeOperators": 988,
      "totalLateralFt": "17528885",
      "recentPermits24Mo": 553,
      "primaryCounties": "RITCHIE, DODDRIDGE, WETZEL, HARRISON, GILMER",
      "topOperators": [
        {
          "name": "DIVERSIFIED PRODUCTION LLC",
          "slug": "diversified-production-llc",
          "wells": 1245
        },
        {
          "name": "ANTERO RESOURCES",
          "slug": "antero-resources",
          "wells": 1204
        },
        {
          "name": "EQT PRODUCTION COMPANY",
          "slug": "eqt-production-company",
          "wells": 1116
        },
        {
          "name": "EASTERN GAS TRANSMISSION AND STORAGE INC",
          "slug": "eastern-gas-transmission-and-storage-inc",
          "wells": 456
        },
        {
          "name": "ENERGY CORPORATION OF AMERICA",
          "slug": "energy-corporation-of-america",
          "wells": 438
        },
        {
          "name": "WEST VIRGINIA MINERAL DEVELOPMENT COMPANY",
          "slug": "west-virginia-mineral-development-company",
          "wells": 307
        },
        {
          "name": "EXPAND OPERATING LLC",
          "slug": "expand-operating-llc",
          "wells": 301
        },
        {
          "name": "PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT",
          "slug": "petroleum-development",
          "wells": 274
        },
        {
          "name": "CNX GAS",
          "slug": "cnx-gas",
          "wells": 265
        },
        {
          "name": "CONSOLIDATION COAL COMPANY",
          "slug": "consolidation-coal-company",
          "wells": 238
        }
      ],
      "dataAsOf": "2026-08-24"
    },
    {
      "state": "WV",
      "formationSlug": "medina-clinton-tuscarora",
      "formationName": "Medina-Clinton-Tuscarora",
      "wellCount": 16294,
      "activeOperators": 578,
      "totalLateralFt": "602780",
      "recentPermits24Mo": 10,
      "primaryCounties": "GILMER, LEWIS, BRAXTON, WAYNE, RITCHIE",
      "topOperators": [
        {
          "name": "DIVERSIFIED PRODUCTION LLC",
          "slug": "diversified-production-llc",
          "wells": 4190
        },
        {
          "name": "ROSS AND WHARTON GAS COMPANY",
          "slug": "ross-and-wharton-gas-company",
          "wells": 682
        },
        {
          "name": "EASTERN GAS TRANSMISSION AND STORAGE INC",
          "slug": "eastern-gas-transmission-and-storage-inc",
          "wells": 467
        },
        {
          "name": "DERAN RESOURCES",
          "slug": "deran-resources",
          "wells": 464
        },
        {
          "name": "EQT PRODUCTION COMPANY",
          "slug": "eqt-production-company",
          "wells": 407
        },
        {
          "name": "HORIZON ENERGY",
          "slug": "horizon-energy",
          "wells": 353
        },
        {
          "name": "K PETROLEUM",
          "slug": "k-petroleum",
          "wells": 347
        },
        {
          "name": "RAMSEY ASSOCIATED PETROLEUM",
          "slug": "ramsey-associated-petroleum",
          "wells": 338
        },
        {
          "name": "R & R OIL & GAS",
          "slug": "r-r-energy-ltd",
          "wells": 336
        },
        {
          "name": "STALNAKER ENERGY",
          "slug": "stalnaker-energy",
          "wells": 297
        }
      ],
      "dataAsOf": "2026-08-24"
    },
    {
      "state": "WV",
      "formationSlug": "appalachian-basin",
      "formationName": "Appalachian Basin",
      "wellCount": 6609,
      "activeOperators": 490,
      "totalLateralFt": "150297",
      "recentPermits24Mo": 34,
      "primaryCounties": "ROANE, KANAWHA, LINCOLN, WAYNE, WYOMING",
      "topOperators": [
        {
          "name": "DIVERSIFIED PRODUCTION LLC",
          "slug": "diversified-production-llc",
          "wells": 1185
        },
        {
          "name": "CABOT OIL & GAS",
          "slug": null,
          "wells": 300
        },
        {
          "name": "COLUMBIA NATURAL RESOURCES",
          "slug": "columbia-natural-resources",
          "wells": 207
        },
        {
          "name": "GROUND RESOURCES",
          "slug": "ground-resources",
          "wells": 146
        },
        {
          "name": "EXCO RESOURCES PA",
          "slug": null,
          "wells": 141
        },
        {
          "name": "EAST RESOURCES",
          "slug": "east-resources",
          "wells": 127
        },
        {
          "name": "PILLAR ENERGY",
          "slug": "pillar-energy",
          "wells": 126
        },
        {
          "name": "DELTA HELIX ENERGY LLC",
          "slug": "delta-helix-energy-llc",
          "wells": 126
        },
        {
          "name": "PRIME ENERGY COMPANY",
          "slug": "prime-energy-company",
          "wells": 124
        },
        {
          "name": "EQT PRODUCTION COMPANY",
          "slug": "eqt-production-company",
          "wells": 117
        }
      ],
      "dataAsOf": "2026-08-24"
    },
    {
      "state": "WV",
      "formationSlug": "utica",
      "formationName": "Utica",
      "wellCount": 5596,
      "activeOperators": 467,
      "totalLateralFt": "5420138",
      "recentPermits24Mo": 9,
      "primaryCounties": "RITCHIE, PLEASANTS, WOOD, TYLER, MARSHALL",
      "topOperators": [
        {
          "name": "PIN OAK OPERATING LLC",
          "slug": "pin-oak-operating-llc",
          "wells": 395
        },
        {
          "name": "ANTERO RESOURCES",
          "slug": "antero-resources",
          "wells": 384
        },
        {
          "name": "EQT PRODUCTION COMPANY",
          "slug": "eqt-production-company",
          "wells": 236
        },
        {
          "name": "DIVERSIFIED PRODUCTION LLC",
          "slug": "diversified-production-llc",
          "wells": 225
        },
        {
          "name": "RITCHIE PETROLEUM",
          "slug": "ritchie-petroleum",
          "wells": 183
        },
        {
          "name": "WV MINERAL GROUP LLC",
          "slug": "wv-mineral-group-llc",
          "wells": 182
        },
        {
          "name": "CRESTON OIL",
          "slug": "creston-oil",
          "wells": 149
        },
        {
          "name": "ZICKEFOOSE R L AND WF",
          "slug": "zickefoose-r-l-and-wf",
          "wells": 122
        },
        {
          "name": "GREYLOCK OPCO",
          "slug": "greylock-opco",
          "wells": 121
        },
        {
          "name": "JAYBEE OIL & GAS",
          "slug": "jaybee-oil-gas",
          "wells": 118
        }
      ],
      "dataAsOf": "2026-08-24"
    },
    {
      "state": "WV",
      "formationSlug": "berea-murrysville",
      "formationName": "Berea-Murrysville",
      "wellCount": 473,
      "activeOperators": 47,
      "totalLateralFt": "4476",
      "recentPermits24Mo": 0,
      "primaryCounties": "MINGO, WAYNE, LINCOLN, MC DOWELL",
      "topOperators": [
        {
          "name": "DIVERSIFIED PRODUCTION LLC",
          "slug": "diversified-production-llc",
          "wells": 183
        },
        {
          "name": "QUALITY NATURAL GAS",
          "slug": "quality-natural-gas",
          "wells": 53
        },
        {
          "name": "WARFIELD MANAGEMENT",
          "slug": "warfield-management",
          "wells": 45
        },
        {
          "name": "GREYLOCK CONVENTIONAL",
          "slug": "greylock-conventional",
          "wells": 39
        },
        {
          "name": "GEOEX",
          "slug": "geoex",
          "wells": 18
        },
        {
          "name": "COLUMBIA NATURAL RESOURCES",
          "slug": "columbia-natural-resources",
          "wells": 17
        },
        {
          "name": "HUNTINGTON MIDWAY CRUDE OIL COMPANY",
          "slug": "huntington-midway-crude-oil-company",
          "wells": 12
        },
        {
          "name": "CHESAPEAKE ENERGY",
          "slug": "chesapeake-energy",
          "wells": 10
        },
        {
          "name": "BOYD O & G",
          "slug": "boyd-o-g",
          "wells": 7
        },
        {
          "name": "GREYLOCK OPCO",
          "slug": "greylock-opco",
          "wells": 6
        }
      ],
      "dataAsOf": "2026-08-24"
    },
    {
      "state": "WV",
      "formationSlug": "bradford-venango-elk",
      "formationName": "Bradford-Venango-Elk",
      "wellCount": 132,
      "activeOperators": 12,
      "totalLateralFt": "16458",
      "recentPermits24Mo": 0,
      "primaryCounties": "MINGO, MC DOWELL",
      "topOperators": [
        {
          "name": "QUALITY NATURAL GAS",
          "slug": "quality-natural-gas",
          "wells": 65
        },
        {
          "name": "DIVERSIFIED PRODUCTION LLC",
          "slug": "diversified-production-llc",
          "wells": 41
        },
        {
          "name": "EASTERN GAS TRANSMISSION AND STORAGE INC",
          "slug": "eastern-gas-transmission-and-storage-inc",
          "wells": 6
        },
        {
          "name": "COLUMBIA NATURAL RESOURCES",
          "slug": "columbia-natural-resources",
          "wells": 4
        },
        {
          "name": "TUSCANY GAS LTD LIABILITY COMPANY",
          "slug": "tuscany-gas-ltd-liability-company",
          "wells": 4
        },
        {
          "name": "EQT PRODUCTION COMPANY",
          "slug": "eqt-production-company",
          "wells": 4
        },
        {
          "name": "ENERGY DEVELOPMENT",
          "slug": "energy-development",
          "wells": 3
        },
        {
          "name": "BLAZER ENERGY",
          "slug": "blazer-energy",
          "wells": 1
        },
        {
          "name": "SENECAUPSHUR PETROLEUM",
          "slug": "senecaupshur-petroleum",
          "wells": 1
        },
        {
          "name": "K PETROLEUM",
          "slug": "k-petroleum",
          "wells": 1
        }
      ],
      "dataAsOf": "2026-08-24"
    }
  ]
}