{
  "state": {
    "name": "Ohio",
    "abbreviation": "OH",
    "slug": "ohio"
  },
  "county": {
    "name": "Belmont",
    "slug": "belmont",
    "url": "https://www.americanroyaltybuyers.com/mineral-rights/ohio/belmont",
    "basinSlug": "utica",
    "description": "American Royalty Buyers purchases mineral rights and royalties in Belmont County, Ohio. Located in the core of the Utica Shale play, we provide expert valuations.",
    "overview": "Belmont County, on the Ohio River in eastern Ohio, is the heart of the Utica Shale's dry-gas core — one of the most productive natural-gas counties in the Appalachian Basin. Roughly 3,200 wells have been drilled in the county and 118 horizontal wells have been spudded since 2023 alone, as operators continue developing the Point Pleasant interval under long laterals. For mineral owners that means active development, new units, and real buyer demand for Belmont County gas royalties.",
    "geology": "Belmont County wells produce dry natural gas from the Point Pleasant formation — the organic-rich base of the Utica Shale play — at depths where reservoir pressure supports exceptional per-well recoveries. Laterals of two to three-plus miles are standard, and the dry-gas window means production is nearly pure methane: royalty checks track natural gas prices closely, with little oil or NGL component.",
    "activity": "Gulfport Energy leads current drilling with 39 wells spudded in the trailing twelve months, followed by Ascent Resources (26) — with Expand Energy, EQT, Tiburon, and Grenadier also running Point Pleasant programs. Between them the county logged 27+27 new permits from Gulfport and Ascent in 2025 alone. Sustained multi-operator development keeps Belmont County among Appalachia's most active gas counties.",
    "keyFormations": [
      "Point Pleasant (Utica)",
      "Utica Shale",
      "Marcellus (limited)",
      "Legacy shallow sands"
    ],
    "stats": [
      {
        "label": "Basin",
        "value": "Appalachian — Utica dry-gas core"
      },
      {
        "label": "Horizontal Spuds Since 2023",
        "value": "118"
      },
      {
        "label": "Most Active Operators",
        "value": "Gulfport (39 spuds/12 mo), Ascent (26)"
      }
    ],
    "faqs": [
      {
        "q": "Who is drilling in Belmont County, Ohio right now?",
        "a": "Gulfport Energy is the county's most active operator with 39 horizontal wells spudded in the trailing twelve months, followed by Ascent Resources with 26 — with Expand Energy, EQT, Tiburon, and Grenadier Energy also drilling. All target the Point Pleasant interval of the Utica Shale. The operator on your acreage depends on the unit covering your tract."
      },
      {
        "q": "Why do my Belmont County royalty checks swing so much?",
        "a": "Belmont County sits in the Utica's dry-gas window, so royalty income is essentially a pure natural-gas stream — and gas prices are far more volatile than oil. A check can double or halve on price alone. Post-production deductions (gathering, processing, transportation) common in Appalachian leases amplify the swings. Selling converts that volatile stream into a fixed lump sum — one reason gas-royalty owners often explore a sale in strong price environments."
      },
      {
        "q": "Are Belmont County mineral rights still valuable if my unit is already drilled?",
        "a": "Often, yes. Utica units frequently hold additional undrilled laterals, and operators return to fill in acreage as gas demand and takeaway capacity grow. Buyers underwrite both the producing wells and that remaining inventory. A free valuation of your specific unit, operator, and decimal tells you what the whole package is worth today."
      }
    ]
  }
}