SALEM, Ohio — The drilling frenzy has officially hit Monroe County. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources issued a total of seven permits in Monroe County during April. All of the permits were issued to HG Energy for wells in Washington Township on the same property named Whitacre Enterprises Inc.

Carroll County

Five permits were issued to Chesapeake Exploration for properties in Carroll County. The wells are located in Fox, Union, Loudon and Lee townships.

Columbiana County

The ODNR issued three permits for Columbiana County to Chesapeake Exploration. The wells are located in Hanover and Elkrun Townships.

First permit

Trumbull County was issued the first permit in that county. It was issued to CNX Gas Company for a location in Vienna.

Also issued a single permit were: Belmont County, Richland Township, Hess Ohio Resources, LLC.; Coshocton County, Linton Township, Anadarko E&P Company, LP.; Guernsey County, Madison Township, Gulfport Energy Co.; Harrison County, Stock Township, Chesapeake Exploration LLC.; Tuscarawas County, Perry Township, Chesapeake Exploration LLC.

According to the ODNR, there are 199 horizontal drilling permits issued in Ohio and 62 wells drilled since 2009.

Pennsylvania

Across the border in Pennsylvania, the Pa. Department of Environmental Protection issued 172 permits during April for Marcellus shale wells.

The leader in the number of permits issued by the DEP was Washington County with 39.

Bradford, Lycoming and Tioga Counties were issued a total of 17 permits each. Not far behind was Greene County with 14 permits issued for Marcellus shale gas wells.

Allegheny, 4; Armstrong, 7; Beaver, 2; Butler, 2; Centre, 2; Clarion, 2; Clearfield, 6; Elk, 3; Fayette, 10; Indiana, 3; Lawrence, 1; McKean, 2; Potter, 5; Sullivan, 2; Susquehanna, 11; Westmoreland, 5; Wyoming, 1.

West Virginia

So far there have been 69 permits issued for drilling in the Marcellus shale in the panhandle.

Brooke, 13; Marshall, 19; Ohio, 6 and Wetzel with 31.

No permits have been issued for Hancock County as of yet, according to the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection.

To check out what the ODNR permitted in earlier months, click here.