**EOG Resources Sets Sights on Enhanced Utica Shale Operations**
In a move that underscores its commitment to expanding its footprint in the Ohio Utica shale play, EOG Resources, Inc. is poised to significantly increase its investment in the region. During the recent Barclays CEO Energy-Power Conference, Chief Operating Officer Jeff Leitzell detailed the company’s ambitious plans, highlighting a series of outstanding achievements and future growth prospects.
EOG, a prominent shale producer based in Houston, Texas, has been steadily bolstering its operations in Ohio. The company currently manages an extensive 445,000 acres within the Utica shale formation. Over the past year, EOG has doubled its engagement in the area, demonstrating a substantial escalation in its regional presence. Notably, the early work conducted on approximately 225,000 net acres has shown excellent results, with production levels meeting or exceeding type curves.
Leitzell emphasized that the company is seeing “outstanding results both through delineation and with our spacing tests in all three areas” of its Utica holdings. The consistent production from these areas has been a critical factor in EOG’s strategic decision to continue investing in the region. In 2023, the company drilled 20 net wells, a number that will more than triple this year as more funding is allocated to this rapidly growing oil play.
“Everything so far has basically met type curve or exceeded type curve,” Leitzell stated during the conference. “If development work continues to progress as it has, we will see further funding in 2025 to support the growth of our operations in Ohio.” The Uttaria project is now on the path to becoming a foundational play, akin to EOG’s core Delaware basin and Eagle Ford assets. This strategic focus reflects the company’s preference for incremental, organic growth over large-scale mergers and acquisitions.
Leitzell also highlighted EOG’s commitment to a more controlled, organic growth model. The company assesses each acreage position’s oper