By Al Pickett Special Correspondent The Devonian-age Marcellus Shale extends over a 575-mile area of the Appalachian Basin and is as thick as 900 feet. A couple thousand feet below the giant Marcellus is another massive organic-rich shale deposit: the Middle Ordovician-age Utica, which can be 400-500 feet thick in parts of Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. While development of the older and deeper Utica is at an earlier stage than the overlying Marcellus, horizontal drilling projects continue to demonstrate the tremendous production potential of both plays. The eye-catching results of ongoing Marcellus and Utica drilling programs also underscore the dominant role that both world-class shales will assume in supplying U.S. markets with clean, abundant and affordable natural gas. Oklahoma City-based Ascent Resources is one company helping to make that vision a reality. Although the 2013 startup didn't complete its first well until summer 2014, Ascent has become of the one of the most active Utica Shale drillers. "We are the largest privately held company in the Utica and probably in the Appalachian Basin," claims Chief Executive Officer Jeff Fisher. "We are the fourth largest Utica gas producer in Ohio and the second largest oil producer." NOVEMBER 2016 83