Shell announced new discovery wells, Neal and Gee, within the Utica formation in Tioga County, Pennsylvania. These wells were drilled to a total measured depth of approximately 4,420m and 4,724m with lateral lengths of 945m at Gee and 1,280m at Neal, respectively. These results are comparable to the best publically announced thus far in the emerging Southeast Ohio Utica dry gas play.

The Gee and Neal discovery wells extend the sweet spot of the Utica formation beyond Southeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania, where previous discoveries have been located, and into an area where Shell holds a major leasehold position of approximately 430,000 acres. The Gee well was drilled over 100mi to the north-east of the nearest horizontal Utica producer, and had an initial flowback rate of 11.2MMCFD of natural gas. Gee has been on production for nearly one year. Shell began production of the Neal well in February, with observed peak flowback rates of 26.5MMCFD of natural gas.

Shell is currently awaiting results from four additional Utica wells drilled in Tioga County, and anticipates those wells will produce later this year.