Hours ahead of EQT Corp.’s second quarter conference call on Thursday, the company tied into sales its first Utica Shale well, the CEO said.

EQT’s Appalachian-based production in the second quarter rose 54% year/year and helped to push the company to a record 1 Bcfe/d, driven by 111% growth in the Marcellus Shale, executives said.

There are even better results to come, CEO David Porges told analysts during a conference call to discuss quarterly results. Some of the wells that were to turn to sales in 3Q2013 were done more efficiently than expected, which moved their completion dates into 2Q2013, he said.

EQT sales volume averaged 92.4 Bcfe, helping the company to surpass the magical 1 Bcf/d target from its Appalachian operations. In the Marcellus alone, production averaged 748 MMcfe/d,” said exploration chief Steve Schlotterbeck. Natural gas liquids (NGL) volumes totaled 1.234 million bbl, a 45% increase year/year.

Of particular interest going forward are the twin targets, Marcellus and Upper Devonian, which are being drilled at the same time. Last year, EQT began using the same multi-well drilling pads to drill into the formations (see NGI, Dec. 10, 2012). With solid results to date, the question becomes whether to drill and complete the two sections at the same time, or complete the Marcellus wells independently, then come back to finish the Upper Devonian wells, said Schlotterbeck.

The Appalachian producer owns about 3.5 million gross acres in the basin, including 540,000 gross acres in the Marcellus.

Forty-one wells (gross) were spud in the Marcellus between April and June, with an average length-of-pay of 4,295 feet. EQT by the end of June had spud 445 wells in the Marcellus with 321 online and 11 completed but not turned to sales. The Pittsburgh operator also spud eight Upper Devonian wells. Three Utica Shale wells have been completed, including the one that recently ramped up. The second and third wells are expected to be turned inline in early August.

Profits soared year/year, jumping to $86.9 million (57 cents/share) from $31.4 million (21 cents). Operating cash flow nearly doubled to $316.7 million from $166 million; adjusted cash flow was $2.10/share versus $1.12. Net operating revenues increased 58% to $469.7 million; while net operating expenses rose by $81.7 million, to $298.4 million. Full-year sales volume guidance was raised to 360-365 Bcfe, 40% higher than in 2012. NGL volumes this year are expected to quadruple to 4.8-5.0 million bbl.

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