RESOURCES
FOR LANDOWNERS IN EASTERN OHIO'S UTICA SHALE
We built this Resources page to help Ohio landowners make informed decisions about their minerals. The oil and gas industry can be complex, and every property is different. Here, you’ll find straightforward answers to common questions about royalties, deductions, lease terms, and the selling process so you can understand your options before making any big decisions. Whether you’re thinking about selling, reviewing a lease, or just want to learn more, these resources are designed to give you clarity and confidence.
Mineral Rights Basics
Should I sell my mineral rights?
Should you never sell your mineral rights?
Understanding Royalties & Income
What are royalties?
Can I transfer my royalties to another person?
How long will I receive royalties?
How much can I expect my royalties to be?
What are deductions?
Why are deductions being taken out of my royalty check?
Why is my royalty check going down?
How does geography affect my royalty?
How do I calculate my royalty interest within a pooled unit?
Selling Mineral Rights or Royalties
Should I sell my mineral rights?
Should you never sell your mineral rights?
How do you sell your mineral rights?
What are my mineral rights worth?
What do you need to get started on a mineral sale?
I decided to sell a portion of my royalty,.. now what?
Why should I choose Gateway Royalty?
Leases, Operators, and Development
Why are my royalty checks going down?
I signed a lease, now they have to drill, right?
Taxes, Mortgages, and Financial Implications
How does selling my royalty affect my income taxes?
I have a mortgage on my property. Can I still sell a portion of my royalty?
How do oil and gas royalties affect my SSI/SSDI payments?
If I buy a piece of property with an active mineral lease, how do I get payments?
Gateway Royalty and Industry Insights
What are mineral rights?
Should I sell my mineral rights?
Should you never sell your mineral rights?
How do you sell you mineral rights?
What are my mineral rights worth?
What is the Utica Shale Play?
The Utica Shale play extends across roughly 60,000 square miles in the Appalachian Basin, including large portions of eastern Ohio, western Pennsylvania, West Virginia and southern New York. In Ohio it covers a swath of counties from the Ohio River corridor northward and from east to west in the Utica/Point Pleasant region.
Geologically the Utica is an Upper Ordovician black shale formation that lies many thousands of feet below the surface. In eastern Ohio the top of the Utica/Point Pleasant interval is found at depths around 6,000 feet or more. The thickness varies, and in its core regions the formation may reach several hundred feet of organic-rich shale. Because of the depth, surface disturbance is minimal compared with shallow formations: there are no traditional pump-jacks spread across the landscape; instead you’ll see large pad complexes, horizontal laterals and modern completion infrastructure.
That modern infrastructure and horizontal drilling design are keys to unlocking the Utica. The formation is low-permeability, so commercial production requires long laterals, multi-stage hydraulic fracturing and access to gathering pipelines and processing facilities. For landowners this means that even if your acreage was part of the early wave, the industry-ready infrastructure means renewed development potential, especially in zones where condensate or liquids-rich intervals are found.
Belmont County, OH
Belmont County remains one of the most active counties in the Ohio portion of the Utica Shale play. In Q2 2025 the county produced approximately 120.1 million MCF of gas and 312.8 thousand barrels of oil, ranking #1 in Ohio for gas production. Operators such as Ascent Resources Utica and Gulfport Appalachia LLC are active here, with recent permits filed by SWN Production and Rice Drilling.
Recent weekly data show Ohio issued multiple permits in the Belmont zone (for the Marcellus/Utica corridor) even as some broader Appalachian activity slowed. For mineral owners this means the acreage in Belmont could remain under development pressure, especially from gas-rich wells or liquids-rich zones if spacing/technology permit. The valley system and infrastructure along the Ohio River also make Belmont logistically attractive for operator investment.
Carroll County, OH
Carroll County is widely recognised as the epicenter of the early Utica boom in Ohio. According to one source the county held about 35% of total permits and 62% of producing wells in its region at one point. As of October 2025, companies such as EOG Resources (6 permits) and Encino Energy LLC (5 permits) are active horizontally in Carroll.
Beyond the legacy gas-rich and NGL-rich wells, Carroll is now increasingly relevant for condensate-window plays and technology upgrades (longer laterals, tighter spacing). For mineral owners this means that even “older” acreage may see renewed interest. The presence of unitisation applications (for example the “Oliver CR MON North” unit) indicates operators are repositioning to capture incremental recovery.
Columbiana County, OH
Columbiana County lies on the eastern flank of the Utica/Point-Pleasant system in Ohio. While production volumes and permit counts are lower relative to Carroll or Belmont, the county remains part of the broader development corridor. A 2015 permitting summary shows Columbiana with over 130 issued permits and about 60 wells producing.
For mineral owners in Columbiana this means two key considerations: (1) Because the area is somewhat less mature than the “core” counties, there may be value from “next-wave” wells or infill spacing. (2) Operators may view parcels in Columbiana as part of expansion or hedging strategies, especially as service and infrastructure push eastward.
Guernsey County, OH
Guernsey County has a meaningful role in Ohio's Utica play, especially on the liquids (oil/NGL) side. According to Q2 2025 data, Guernsey produced about 3.7 million barrels of oil and 24.4 million MCF of gas. While major headlines focus less on Guernsey than Carroll or Belmont, the county's proximity and infrastructure position make it strategically important.
For landowners in Guernsey this means that even if individual wells have not garnered major news, the “zone” is still under development pressure. Infill, tighter spacing, and extension of liquids‐rich zones remain plausible drivers of value.
Harrison County, OH
Harrison County is also active in the Utica/Point-Pleasant corridor, producing ~83.7 million MCF of gas in Q2 2025 with ~3.4 million barrels of oil. While its oil output is comparable to Carroll/Guernsey, the spacing and liquid yield vary by zone. Operators such as Ascent Resources have been noted in permitting across Harrison, signaling ongoing interest.
For mineral owners here the message is similar to other eastern Ohio counties: the opportunity may not just be legacy wells but newer technology, condensate‐window potential, and the possibility of selling or repositioning mineral interests if you're in a favorable part of the county.
Jefferson County, OH
Jefferson County has lesser oil volumes (20.5 thousand barrels in Q2 2025) but relatively high gas volumes (~107.5 million MCF) compared to many Ohio counties. Historically it has also seen activity (permits and wells) tied to the Utica.
For a mineral owner in Jefferson, the key questions are: Is your acreage in a higher liquids-yield portion of the play (condensate or oil window) or more gas‐dominant? Gas-only acreage may face more competition and value pressure; oil/condensate‐rich acreage may have more optionality for selling or monetising.
Monroe County, OH
Monroe County produced ~76.3 thousand barrels of oil and ~82.6 million MCF of gas in Q2 2025. The county sits in the easternmost section of Ohio's Utica corridor and has been part of the expansion front. Its well and permit activity may not match the core counties (Carroll/Belmont) but it remains relevant.
Mineral owners in Monroe should treat their acreage as part of the “growth front.” If operators shift focus or technology lowers break-even, these parcels may see bids or leasing activity. The “window” effect (condensate vs gas) and spacing/infills make a difference.
Noble County, OH
Noble County recorded ~406.5 thousand barrels of oil and ~18.4 million MCF of gas in Q2 2025. While the gas volume is comparatively lower, the oil side suggests potential for liquids-rich development. Noble has historically seen investment from companies targeting shallow or deeper zones adjacent to the Utica proper.
For mineral owners, this means that Noble may be undervalued compared to “buzz” counties. If your acreage lies in the part of the county where liquids or condensate windows are accessible, it may merit evaluation or sale rather than hold-out.
Stark County, OH
Stark County is somewhat more peripheral compared with the primary eastern Ohio Utica counties, but it has seen horizontal drilling and subsurface activity in the Utica/Point-Pleasant systems. Data shows it produced ~270.4 thousand barrels of oil and ~2.5 million MCF of gas in Q2 2025. For landowners in Stark, the story is more about capture of remaining potential and perhaps being in a secondary zone rather than primary.
The key landowner takeaway: parcels may still be attractive for infill, re-drills or purchase, but you'll want to compare arm's-length data, production results, and operator interest carefully before assuming the value equals core‐zone counties.
Tuscarawas County, OH
Tuscarawas County produced ~270.4 thousand barrels of oil and ~2.5 million MCF of gas (Q2 2025). It lies in the broader Utica corridor and is part of the eastern Ohio infrastructure belt. While fewer high-profile liquidity or condensate window headlines surface here compared to Carroll or Belmont, the county still participates in the regional trend of tighter spacing and enhanced recovery.
For mineral owners in Tuscarawas, consider whether your acreage lies in the more liquids-rich tier, whether new wells or recompletions are possible, and whether selling now or staying depends on operator interest and your lease/royalty structure.