ASCENT RESOURCES - UTICA LLC - CRAVAT WHL BL WELL PAD - Oil Extraction in Saint Clairsville, Ohio

ASCENT RESOURCES - UTICA LLC - CRAVAT WHL BL WELL PAD is an oil extraction facility located at 72880 Wheeling Valley Rd, Saint Clairsville, Ohio, in Belmont County. The facility is operational and is part of the Utica Shale development, which has driven substantial oil and gas production in the Appalachian Basin. As a well pad, it supports the extraction of crude oil and natural gas, classified under NAICS codes 211111 (Crude Petroleum Extraction) and 211120 (Natural Gas Liquid Extraction). The facility operates under the regulatory framework of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). Oil extraction in Ohio is subject to the Clean Air Act (CAA) and Clean Water Act (CWA) regulations, including permitting for air emissions and stormwater runoff. The Utica Shale region typically uses horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing to access hydrocarbons, with well pads designed to minimize surface footprint. This well pad contributes to the regional energy supply, supporting local and national oil production. Its location in rural Belmont County reflects the typical siting of extraction facilities near resource deposits. The facility's operations are part of a broader network of wells in the Utica Shale, which has reshaped the energy landscape in the eastern United States.

Oil extraction in the Utica Shale involves hydraulic fracturing, which raises concerns about water usage, chemical additives, and potential groundwater contamination. The facility's location in a rural area with mixed agricultural and forested land use requires careful management of stormwater runoff to prevent erosion and sedimentation. Air emissions from drilling and production equipment, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and methane, are regulated under EPA's New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for the oil and gas sector.