This story was written in response to a reader-submitted question through Open Source, a platform where readers can ask Ashland Source’s newsroom to investigate a question.
ASHLAND — There is no fracking happening in Ashland County right now, but local oil producers still use wells that were likely dug with fracking in the past, according to data from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
Hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking” is a controversial drilling technique where highly pressurized liquids and materials are injected into the ground to fracture underground shale formations, releasing natural gas and oil.
Fracking took off in the 1950s, and it is likely that most wells dug in Ashland County since then have used the technique, ODNR spokesperson Adam Schroeder said.
“Scientifically speaking, yes. Historically speaking, yes, hydraulic fracturing has been going on in the state since the late 40s, early 50s,” he said.
Of the over 2,000 active wells in Ashland County, 1,482 of them were dug after January 1, 1950, according to ODNR’s data. The most recent well with a listed completion date was dug in 2007.
Deep Resources LLC., which owns and operates an oil field in Perry and Jackson townships, does not do any fracking or drilling, owner Jeff Houser said. Instead, the company pumps oil out of wells that were dug in the past.
“We plug the bad ones, produce the good ones. We try to get all of the fluid out of the hole and sell the oil,” Houser said.
Deep Resources also operates a number of “Class II injection wells” in Ashland County where liquids are injected into the earth for disposal, storage, or to retrieve residual resources, according to the EPA.
A significant chunk of Ashland’s active oil wells are owned by Columbia Gas Transmission, who also do not frack or drill. Their wells in southern Ashland county are used for storing gas.
