MarkWest Utica EMG LLC, a joint venture between MarkWest Energy Partners LP and The Energy and Minerals Group (EMG), have executed a letter of intent with Oklahoma City-based Gulfport Energy Corp. to provide gathering, processing, fractionation, and marketing services in the liquids-rich corridor of the Utica.

Results of a petrophysical study conducted by Schlumberger Canada Ltd. show that the Anticosti Macasty in Quebec can be compared with the Utica Shale in Ohio, said Petrolia Inc. February 21.

Triad Hunter LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Houston-based independent energy company Magnum Hunter Resources Corp., has closed on the acquisition of leasehold mineral interests located predominately in Noble County, Ohio from an undisclosed seller for a total purchase price of $24.8 million.

Following a rise in popularity in the oil and gas upstream sector in 2010, joint venture agreements played a dominant role as a source of low cost funding in 2011—with unconventional resources drawing the most attention, noted analyst at Stifel Nicolaus.

Building on its existing relationship with French oil major Total, Chesapeake Energy Corp. completed yet another joint venture to continue its progress developing unconventional resources—this time in the Ohio portion of the Utica Shale play.

Initial drilling in the Utica is still centered around eastern Ohio, in the wet gas window, but activity could push westward as the oily window is better defined, noted Christopher Perry, the Energy Group Supervisor of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Geological Survey in a conference call hosted by Stifel Nicolaus last week.

Chesapeake Energy Corp. has closed $1.25 billion of perpetual preferred shares of its wholly owned, unrestricted subsidiary, CHK Utica LLC.

To help fund its Utica Shale drilling and development plan, Gulfport Energy Corp. has announced plans to offer five million shares to the public, of which four million will be new shares and one million will be offered by an individual stockholder.

CONSOL Energy Inc. has closed on its previously announced agreement with Hess to jointly explore and develop CONSOL's nearly 200,000 Utica Shale acres in Ohio for aggregate consideration to CONSOL of approximately $594 million.

The law firm of Babst Calland has opened an its newest office in Charleston, West Virginia at the United Center on Virginia Street East.

Building upon the existing relationship Carrizo Oil & Gas Inc. has with private equity firm Avista Capital Partners in the Marcellus Shale, the two companies have just announced a joint venture agreement to acquire and develop acreage in the Utica Shale.

Today, oil and natural gas company Chesapeake Energy disclosed peak rates from four Utica Shale wells in eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania, three in the wet gas window and one in the dry gas window.

Providing further evidence that Ohio is on the cusp of a possible economic oil and gas boom, the Ohio Oil & Gas Energy Education Program (OOGEEP) has released an economic impact study that shows how the state’s petroleum industry is positively impacting Ohio’s economy today and includes the first comprehensive research into how planned oil and gas development in the Utica Shale formation might impact the state over the next five years.