In the Utica — direct buyer, no brokers, no fees
Columbiana County, on the Utica's northern flank, pairs a large legacy well stock — nearly 4,900 wells drilled, about 1,550 active — with genuine modern development: 45 horizontal wells spudded since 2023, led by Hilcorp Energy with EOG now permitting alongside. Owners here commonly hold both kinds of interest: small checks from old Clinton verticals and growing royalties from new Point Pleasant units.
Modern wells target the Point Pleasant in the play's wet-gas and transition window on the northern edge of the Utica fairway, while the county's legacy production comes from the shallow Clinton sandstone that blankets northeast Ohio. The two systems coexist — a new horizontal unit can develop beneath tracts that have paid Clinton royalties for decades.
Hilcorp Energy leads with 15 wells spudded in the trailing twelve months and 16 new permits in 2025; EOG Ohio added 10 spuds as its northern program expands out of Carroll County. Steady two-operator development keeps Columbiana County minerals in demand — particularly acreage in the path of EOG's expansion.
On the drilling side, Hilcorp Energy leads with 15 horizontal wells spudded in the trailing twelve months, and EOG added 10 as its Carroll County program expands north — both targeting the Point Pleasant. On the buying side, ARB purchases Columbiana County mineral rights and royalties directly: producing Utica units, legacy Clinton royalties, and unleased acreage alike, with a free written valuation first.
It means your minerals may have two layers of value: the existing shallow royalty stream, and the deeper Point Pleasant rights that a new horizontal unit can develop independently. Check whether your lease covers all depths or only the shallow zones — a decades-old Clinton lease may not hold the deep rights, leaving them yours to lease or sell. A valuation should price both layers, not just the current checks.
The county sits on the play's northern flank in the wet-gas and transition zone — richer than the dry-gas river counties, gassier than Carroll County's oil window. Product mix affects how royalties track commodity prices and how buyers underwrite: wet-gas interests carry both gas and NGL pricing.
Selling Columbiana County mineral rights to American Royalty Buyers takes four steps: (1) gather your most recent check stub, division order, or lease so you can describe your interest; (2) request a free valuation, in which ARB reviews your net mineral acres, the producing and permitted wells on your acreage in the Utica, and current commodity prices; (3) review the written, no-obligation offer, typically delivered within five business days; and (4) if you accept, ARB handles the title research, curative work, and deed preparation, then funds your lump-sum payment by wire — usually within four to six weeks. ARB is a direct buyer: no broker, and no fees or commissions at any point.
Columbiana County produces from the Utica . Explore the full basin hub for more on geology, operators, and selling your minerals.
American Royalty Buyers also buys royalty and working interests beyond traditional mineral rights — directly, with no fees and a free, no-obligation offer: