Three counties and five producers led Ohio’s 50 percent year-on-year increase in natural gas production in the Utica shale to 6.4 Bcf per day in the second quarter, according to Platts.

Jefferson, Monroe and Belmont counties accounted for 75 percent of total production in the second quarter, according to figures from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Additionally, led by Ascent Resources, the state’s top five producers accounted for 75 percent of the state’s shale gas production.

Over the last year, Ascent more than doubled its production. The company looks to continue to expand in the play, with deals to buy $1.5 billion of Utica wells and leases from Hess and CNX Resources as the second quarter was ending.

Learn more: Platts > Ohio shale gas production spikes as driller Ascent pushes expansion