{
  "state": {
    "name": "Ohio",
    "abbreviation": "OH",
    "slug": "ohio"
  },
  "county": {
    "name": "Jefferson",
    "slug": "jefferson-oh",
    "url": "https://www.americanroyaltybuyers.com/mineral-rights/ohio/jefferson-oh",
    "basinSlug": "utica",
    "description": "American Royalty Buyers purchases mineral rights and royalties in Jefferson County, Ohio. Located in the core of the Utica Shale play, we provide expert valuations.",
    "overview": "Jefferson County, along the Ohio River between Belmont and Columbiana, is a dry-gas Utica county in active development: 56 horizontal wells spudded since 2023, led by Ascent Resources with 23 spuds in the trailing twelve months. Roughly 3,100 wells have been drilled in the county across its long history; today's story is Point Pleasant units under long laterals, paying gas-weighted royalties to owners along the river.",
    "geology": "Jefferson County sits in the Utica dry-gas core, where the Point Pleasant is deep, pressured, and prolific. Wells produce nearly pure methane, so royalty checks track natural gas prices closely. Laterals of two to three miles routinely cross many separately owned tracts — most owners hold a decimal in a larger unit rather than a whole well.",
    "activity": "Ascent Resources leads with 23 wells spudded in the trailing twelve months and 16 new permits in 2025, with EOG also active on the county's edge. Ascent's sustained program — it is the largest private producer in the Ohio Utica — keeps new units forming and existing acreage in demand.",
    "keyFormations": [
      "Point Pleasant (dry gas)",
      "Utica Shale",
      "Legacy shallow zones"
    ],
    "stats": [
      {
        "label": "Basin",
        "value": "Appalachian — Utica dry-gas core"
      },
      {
        "label": "Horizontal Spuds Since 2023",
        "value": "56"
      },
      {
        "label": "Most Active Operator",
        "value": "Ascent Resources (23 spuds/12 mo)"
      }
    ],
    "faqs": [
      {
        "q": "Who is drilling in Jefferson County, Ohio?",
        "a": "Ascent Resources leads — 23 horizontal wells spudded in the trailing twelve months and 16 new permits in 2025, targeting the dry-gas Point Pleasant — with EOG active on the county's flank. Royalties from Ascent-operated wells are typically paid through Ascent Resources Utica, LLC, so a check under that name means your minerals sit in one of its units."
      },
      {
        "q": "Why do my Jefferson County gas royalties change so much month to month?",
        "a": "Dry-gas royalties move with natural gas prices, which swing far more than oil — and Appalachian leases commonly allow post-production deductions for gathering and transportation that amplify the effect. Neither is unique to your wells. When weighing an offer against your checks, compare against a full year of stubs rather than one strong or weak month, and know what your lease lets the operator deduct."
      },
      {
        "q": "What are Jefferson County, Ohio mineral rights worth?",
        "a": "It depends on whether your tract is in a producing unit, the unit's remaining undrilled laterals, your royalty rate and deduction language, and current gas prices — dry-gas interests are especially price-sensitive, which is why there is no standing county number. With 56 horizontal wells spudded since 2023 and Ascent running a steady program, Jefferson County interests attract real buyer competition. ARB's free valuation shows the number and the reasoning."
      }
    ]
  }
}