A Transformative Step Into the Utica
EOG Resources has made its boldest move yet in 2025, positioning itself as a diversified, gas-advantaged producer. With the $5.6 billion Encino acquisition, EOG now controls over 1 million net acres in the Utica shale, unlocking more than 2 billion barrels of oil equivalent (Bboe) of potential resource. This expansion firmly establishes the Utica as a foundational asset, joining the Delaware Basin, Eagle Ford, and Dorado in EOG’s core portfolio.
Utica Oil & Gas Operators Account Directory – $10
Includes: Account Name, Location, Phone, Website, Wells Drilled….
The integration plan calls for five rigs and three frac fleets in 2025, with roughly 65 wells to sales. EOG expects $150 million in first-year synergies through optimized infrastructure, logistics, and well cost improvements.
EOG Resources continues to demonstrate a strong and disciplined drilling program across its core operating regions, with notable activity centered in Ohio’s Utica Shale and Wyoming’s Powder River Basin. Based on a review of 104 well records, the data highlights EOG’s balanced strategy between mature unconventional plays and emerging high-return assets.
Regional Highlights
- Ohio (Utica Shale) accounted for 78 wells, representing the bulk of EOG’s current development focus in this dataset.
- Wyoming (Powder River Basin) followed with 26 wells, underscoring the company’s continued investment in liquids-rich targets.
EOG’s activity distribution reflects a broader industry shift toward natural gas and condensate plays in the Appalachian region, alongside oil-weighted wells in the Rockies, aligning with its diversified portfolio strategy.
County-Level Insights
- Carroll County, OH led all areas with 37 wells drilled, reaffirming its position as a top-tier development zone for EOG.
- Campbell County, WY came second with 21 wells, followed by Harrison County, OH with 14 wells.
- Other active areas included Noble, Tuscarawas, Columbiana, and Jefferson counties, signaling a steady spread of EOG’s drilling footprint across Ohio’s productive Utica corridor.
This geographic spread suggests a multi-county optimization strategy, likely leveraging existing infrastructure and pad-based efficiencies.
Contractor & Rig Activity
The dataset includes detailed contractor and rig data, showing EOG’s reliance on high-performance drilling partners.
- H&P 385 led all rigs with 25 wells, followed by Patterson 579 (17 wells), Patterson 580 (16 wells), and Nabors B16 (15 wells).
- The use of Patterson-UTI and Nabors rigs highlights EOG’s continued emphasis on efficiency, automation, and reliability in its drilling operations.
These rigs are among the most modern in North America, often equipped with advanced digital control systems and automated pipe-handling technology, enabling EOG to maintain high footage-per-day and lower non-productive time.
LNG Strategy: The Next Cash Flow Engine
EOG’s marketing team is quietly building an LNG powerhouse. By 2027, the company expects to have 900 MMcf/d of LNG-linked sales, diversified across Henry Hub, JKM, and Brent indices. Over the past four years, EOG has delivered 140 MMcf/d into LNG channels, generating over $1.3 billion in incremental uplift—a signal of what’s to come as export capacity on the Gulf Coast expands.
