HARTFORD - The second Utica Shale drilling permit has been issued for Trumbull County, but don't expect to see a rig anytime soon.
Richard Hunter, Vice President of Investor Relations with Carrizo Oil and Gas in Houston, said the permits for the Utica shale acreage were obtained but only as a first step in prospecting their exploration options.
"It's an indication that we have an interest in possibly drilling a well, and it's hard to read really anymore into it than that," he said.
Carrizo's acreage straddles the Ohio-Pennsylvania, Trumbull-Mercer line. Carrizo obtained the permit for Trumbull on May 9 and learned Wednesday they also received the permit for the Mercer County land.
Hunter said they have not drilled anywhere in the Utica Shale Play yet, but the company does have between 26 and 28 Marcellus Shale wells drilled in northeast Pennsylvania in Susquehanna and Wyoming Counties.
The land is part of the Brugler property along Hayes Orangeville Road.