Active Acquisition State
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Ohio has been producing oil and gas since the 1800s, and the development of the Utica Shale in the 2010s transformed the eastern part of the state into one of the most active drilling regions in the Appalachian Basin. We buy mineral interests and royalties across Ohio's Utica and Marcellus trends as well as legacy conventional production across the state. The Utica Shale in Ohio produces a mix of dry gas, wet gas, condensate, and oil depending on the thermal maturity of the formation, with the wet gas and condensate windows in eastern Ohio being particularly attractive to operators. Ohio also has a long history of conventional production from the Clinton Sandstone and other formations that continues to generate royalty income on thousands of legacy wells.
Highlighted state with approximate basin locations shown in tan
The table below shows the top producing counties in Ohio where we are most active, along with the primary operators and target formations in each area.
| County | Major Operators | Key Formations |
|---|---|---|
| Belmont | Ascent Resources, Gulfport Energy, Rice Energy (EQT) | Utica, Marcellus |
| Monroe | Ascent Resources, Gulfport Energy, Eclipse Resources | Utica |
| Harrison | Gulfport Energy, Ascent Resources, Chesapeake Energy | Utica |
| Carroll | Chesapeake Energy, Gulfport Energy | Utica |
| Guernsey | Ascent Resources, Gulfport Energy | Utica |
| Noble | Ascent Resources, Gulfport Energy | Utica |
| Jefferson | Ascent Resources, Chesapeake Energy | Utica, Marcellus |
Ohio's Utica Shale is dominated by Ascent Resources, Encino Energy, and Expand Energy (formed from the 2024 Chesapeake–Southwestern merger), which together hold the vast majority of developed acreage in the core counties. EQT Corporation (which acquired Rice Energy) also has significant Utica production. Gulfport Energy maintains a long-standing position across the dry-gas core. The legacy conventional production across the state is operated by hundreds of small, independent operators who maintain the existing well base.
Operators ranked by the number of Ohio counties where they hold the top active-well count. Counties where the operator runs the most active wells link through to the county detail page.
Ohio lease terms in the Utica trend typically include royalty rates of 1/8 (12.5%) to 1/5 (20%), with 1/8 being the legacy standard and newer leases in competitive areas reaching 3/16 or higher. Ohio has a mandatory pooling statute that allows the Division of Oil and Gas Resources Management to pool unleased mineral interests into a drilling unit, though the process is less commonly invoked than in states like Oklahoma. Bonus payments for new Utica leases have varied significantly over time, ranging from a few hundred dollars in the early exploration phase to several thousand dollars during peak leasing activity. Many Ohio mineral leases from the initial leasing boom in 2011-2013 have primary terms that have expired or are approaching expiration, creating potential re-leasing opportunities.
We buy mineral interests, royalty interests, NPRI, and ORRI across Ohio's producing counties.
Not sure which type you own? Start with our mineral rights glossary for plain-English definitions of MI, RI, NPRI, and ORRI.
Ohio mineral law has some unique features, including the Ohio Dormant Mineral Act, which allows surface owners to claim mineral interests that have been abandoned for 20 years or more. This act has been the subject of significant litigation, and several Ohio Supreme Court decisions have clarified its application. If you hold an Ohio mineral interest that you have not actively managed, it is important to verify that no adverse claim has been filed. Ohio also has a severance tax on oil and gas production, though the rate is relatively low.
Ohio mineral owners occasionally run into questions about severance-tax treatment, dormant mineral statutes, and non-participating royalty interests. These topics rarely drive a transaction, but understanding them helps you read a division order or evaluate an offer. The summaries below are starting points — verify against current statute text before relying on them.
Severance tax on oil and gas is unusually low: $0.10 per barrel of oil, $0.025 per Mcf of natural gas. Multiple legislative proposals to raise these rates to a percent-of-value basis have failed.
Ohio counties also impose ad valorem property tax on producing mineral interests. The very low state severance rate is one reason Ohio mineral economics for owners can be relatively favorable on a tax-burden basis compared with Wyoming or North Dakota.
Statutory citation: ORC 5749
Ohio has a Dormant Mineral Act (ORC 5301.56). After 20 years of non-use (no production, no lease, no recorded transaction), the surface owner may serve notice and file an affidavit of abandonment with the county recorder. The mineral owner has 60 days to file a Claim to Preserve preserving the interest. Without preservation, the mineral interest is deemed abandoned and merges with the surface estate. Walker v. Shondrick-Nau (2016) and subsequent Ohio Supreme Court cases have narrowed and clarified the procedural requirements; the law is heavily litigated.
Statutory citation: ORC 5301.56
Ohio recognizes NPRIs as cost-free royalty interests. The ODMA applies to NPRIs the same way it applies to other mineral interests, so unused NPRIs should be preserved through recorded use or Claims to Preserve within each rolling 20-year window.
Need plain-English definitions? See our mineral rights glossary.
The Ohio Dormant Mineral Act (ORC 5301.56) allows surface owners to claim mineral interests that have been abandoned for 20 years. The act was significantly amended in 2006 and has been the subject of multiple Ohio Supreme Court decisions. Under the current version, a surface owner can serve notice on a severed mineral owner, and if the mineral owner does not file a claim to preserve their interest within 60 days, the minerals may revert to the surface owner. If you hold an Ohio mineral interest, it is important to actively manage it — record documents, pay taxes, and respond promptly to any notice you receive.
The Ohio Utica Shale has produced some of the most prolific natural gas wells in the country. The wet gas and condensate windows in Belmont, Monroe, and Harrison counties have been particularly productive, with some wells producing billions of cubic feet of natural gas over their lifetimes. The Utica in Ohio is generally deeper and more overpressured than in other parts of the Appalachian Basin, which drives strong initial production rates. While the pace of new drilling has moderated from its peak, operators continue to develop their acreage and the play generates significant royalty income.
Royalty rates on Ohio Utica leases vary from 1/8 (12.5%) on legacy leases to as high as 20% on more recent leases negotiated during peak activity. If your lease is approaching the end of its primary term without production, you may have the opportunity to negotiate a higher royalty rate on a new lease. The royalty rate on your existing lease is a key factor in how we value your mineral interest for purchase.
Yes. Ohio imposes a severance tax on oil and gas production at relatively modest rates: 10 cents per barrel of oil and 2.5 cents per MCF of natural gas. These rates are significantly lower than the production taxes in states like Montana, Wyoming, or North Dakota, which makes Ohio a relatively tax-favorable state for mineral production.
Yes. We purchase mineral interests with legacy conventional production from the Clinton Sandstone, Berea Sandstone, and other formations across Ohio. While these interests typically generate modest royalty income, they still have value, particularly if the tract has undeveloped Utica or Marcellus potential beneath the conventional production. Many Ohio mineral owners hold inherited interests from conventional wells drilled decades ago — we routinely evaluate and purchase these types of interests.
Many Ohiomineral and royalty interests are held by heirs who live elsewhere. If that's you, our metro pages address the inheritance, ancillary-probate, and tax mechanics specific to your home state:
See all mineral rights FAQ.
State-specific guides covering the legal mechanics that come up most often for owners considering a sale.