The US Energy Information Administration has produced new maps that show the structure, thickness, and geologic setting of the Utica Shale play and the location of production wells.
Production of oil and natural gas from the Utica play has increased since 2011, with more than 1,700 wells drilled as of January 2016.
The Utica play includes both the Utica formation and the deeper Point Pleasant formation.
The play spans about 60,000 square miles across Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New York. The geologic characteristics are favorable for the accumulation and production of hydrocarbons.
The Utica map is one of several maps of low-permeability hydrocarbon formations that EIA updated with additional geologic detail.
EIA has previously published updated maps of major geological and tectonic features for the Marcellus and Eagle Ford plays.
It has also provided shapefiles for structure and thickness maps for Marcellus, Eagle Ford, Abo-Yeso, Bone Spring, Delaware, Glorieta-Yeso, Spraberry, Bakken, Three Forks, and Niobrara.