Click here to print graphs.

Carroll Continues to Lead Ohio Counties

 In Number of Utica/Point Pleasant Wells

On May 21 the Ohio Department of Natural Resources released an updated status report for Utica/Point Pleasant Shale Well activity. The total number of producing wells increased from 97 to 100 and the total number of permitted wells increased to 676. Carroll County continues to have the most permits (263) and the most producing wells (52) in the state.

The ODNR report identifies the location of each permitted well, the date the permit was issued, the well location, status (permitted, drilling, drilled, producing), well name, operator, and other comments. 

Click here for detailed maps of well data.

Carroll County’s Taxable Sales

Up $61.8 Million in 2012

How is oil and gas drilling affecting the local economy?

Carroll County Auditor, Leroy VanHorne, reports the county’s 2012 taxable sales reached $262,785,300—an increase of approximately $61.8 million (a 31 percent increase) over 2011 sales.

As a result, the collection of the county’s one-percent sales tax increased from approximately $2 million in 2011 to $2.6 million in 2012.



Energy Companies Spend $40 Million

To Upgrade Carroll County & Township Roads

The four energy companies drilling Carroll County’s Utica Shale have spent approximately $40 million for improvements to county and township roads, according to Carroll County Engineer, Brian Wise.

The majority of the funds have been provided by Chesapeake Energy which holds 194 well permits in Carroll County. Rex Energy and EnerVest have five permits each and Sierra has one.

Carroll County’s annual road repair budget is approximately $500,000—making the energy companies’ investment the equivalent of 80 times the county’s annual road repair budget!

"Because of the road work these companies are doing, we will be able to use our budget to do more work on bridge and culvert projects,” Wise says.

Truthland: A Pennsylvania Mom's Search for Answers about the Safety of Fracking

We found Truthland  on You Tube at  www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTJaaeiuzSU . The video presents interviews with scientists, environmentalists, government officials and residents of other oil producing areas.

Several Carroll County Gusher readers have suggested we view Truthland, a video that documents a Pennsylvania woman’s quest to learn if the fracking process will harm the water and soil on her farm and endanger her family’s health.

Prepare Now for New Jobs in Ohio’s Natural Gas and Oil Industry

How many new energy-related jobs will be created in Ohio? Reports range from 20,000 to 200,000. A few months ago the Ohio Chamber of Commerce released a new study that predicts there will be 65,000 new jobs by 2014—that’s only about 18 months from now!

Anyone hoping to work in Ohio’s budding energy field will be pleased to know about a new document that identifies 75 different careers in the crude oil and natural gas industry. The document provides job descriptions and education requirements for both higher and entry level jobs.  Click here for more information.

Welcome to the Carroll County Gusher

In January 2012, we started the Carroll County Gusher because we believe the residents of Carroll County have a lot of reasons to gush. We wanted to assist in the flow of good news and helpful information about job opportunities, business developments, events, residents and the small-town values and connection we cherish. Since our first postings, thousands viewers have visited the Carroll County Gusher website and taken the time to send us many positive E-mails. Click here to learn more about our purpose.

More than 250 Job Openings Listed on the Gusher’s Jobs Page

The Carroll County Gusher is pleased to have more than 250 available positions listed on our Jobs Page. We try to add new listings each day and we provide free listings to any local business with job openings. Check back often and please forward this site to friends looking for a job. Click here to view posted jobs.

Appreciating Carroll County

It is easy to gush about the natural beauty and down-home comfort of Carroll County. Visit our photo page to catch a glimpse into the quiet settings, annual events and landmarks that have enticed many of us to put down roots in this tiny spot on the map. Click here to view the photo gallery and learn more about Carroll County.

Where to Find the Gas and Oil

We are pleased to post the latest map provided by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to show the location and status (producing, completed, drilled, drilling, permitted and plugged) of horizontal Utica-Point Pleasant well activity in Ohio.

We have also posted a map provided by staff members of the Ohio Geological Survey, a division of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. This map attempts to identify the locations having the greatest production potential for deposits of oil, natural gas and “wet” gas (liquid ethane, propane and butane.) Click here to view maps

Preserving a Strong Sense of Community

Carroll County is fortunate to have many community organizations and individual volunteers working throughout the year to plan educational, social, health and recreational events – many to raise money for local causes. The Carroll County Gusher is pleased to help promote the projects and programs of nonprofit organizations. We urge local organizations to send us details about events so that we can post them for others to read. Click here to read about local events.

Oil and Gas News

Although we don’t have a staff of reporters to cover all the news coming from the growth of the oil and gas market, we will seek out and report interesting stories and trends that illustrate how oil and gas exploration is affecting our area and our lives.Click here to view current postings.

Local Businesses & Opportunities

It seems new opportunities are emerging everyday. Our local business page will provide insights from other areas that have experienced “oil booms” and profile local businesses that are expanding their services. Click here for local business opportunities.

Gas and Oil Boom Sets off a Chain of Business Expansions

The area’s oil and gas boom has prompted several northeastern Ohio manufacturers to make multi-million dollar investments in their facilities and to create hundreds of new, good paying jobs.  Click here to learn more.

Something for Everyone

Have you driven down a back road in Carroll County, seen a for-sale sign on acres of land and thought about buying some as an investment? A few years ago a friend did just that, paying approximately $2,500 per acre. He more than doubled his money last year when he leased the mineral rights to his property. He stands to make even more in oil and gas royalties, and he will still have the land for development.

A story in the Akron Beacon Journal detailed the number of individuals positioned to make money from Ohio’s shale oil and gas wells. They include the exploration and drilling companies, the service companies that supply drilling operations, local land owners with mineral rights, and savvy local businessmen and women who respond to the growing needs for housing, food and consumer goods and services.

So far, so good. But, what about the rest of us? Is there an opportunity for those of us who drove past the land-for-sale signs; who don’t have the muscles to work on a well site; who can’t drive a tanker truck; or don’t own retail or service businesses?  Can we still make a profitable connection to the growing oil and natural gas business? Click here to read more