The Utica shale in Ohio is not the best U.S. oil play and not the worst. It's right there in the middle, Enverus Intelligence Research said in a report.

According to a new well performance analysis, the Utica鈥檚 economics demonstrate 鈥渃ompetitiveness鈥� with established oil plays in the Lower 48, Enverus reported.

"A relatively small and consistent proven fairway for Utica oil achieves economics that rank below the Midland, Delaware and Denver-Julesburg but above the Bakken and Eagle Ford,鈥� said Mah Noor Imtiaz, an associate at Enverus.

Recent wells in the Utica need longer laterals to achieve production rates in the first six months comparable to those in the Delaware Basin in Texas and New Mexico, Enverus said. Operators are drilling step-out wells around the main part of the Utica that may extend the play.

The Utica shale in Ohio is not the best U.S. oil play and not the worst. It's right there in the middle, Enverus Intelligence Research said in a report.

According to a new well performance analysis, the Utica’s economics demonstrate “competitiveness” with established oil plays in the Lower 48, Enverus reported.

"A relatively small and consistent proven fairway for Utica oil achieves economics that rank below the Midland, Delaware and Denver-Julesburg but above the Bakken and Eagle Ford,” said Mah Noor Imtiaz, an associate at Enverus.

Recent wells in the Utica need longer laterals to achieve production rates in the first six months comparable to those in the Delaware Basin in Texas and New Mexico, Enverus said. Operators are drilling step-out wells around the main part of the Utica that may extend the play.