Oklahoma City-based Gulfport Energy Corp. has added three members to its Ohio management team, bolstering oversight of one of the company’s largest operating assets, the Utica Shale.

In September, Gulfport appointed J. Ross Kirtley as COO for Ohio activities. Kirtley joined the company from onshore operator Sandridge Energy Inc. where he served as vice president of services.

In November, Gulfport hired Robert A. Jones as vice president for drilling in Ohio. He joined the company from Chesapeake Energy Corp. where he served as drilling engineering manager for the Haynesville, Barnett and Eagle Ford shales. Also last month, Mark R. Malone was appointed vice president of Ohio operations, coming to Gulfport from Sierra Engineering where he worked as an engineering manager.

Those appointments happened as Gulfport made waves with its Irons 1-H well in Belmont County, OH, which hit a record initial production rate of 30.3 MMcf/d (see Shale Daily, Nov. 8). Other than its position in the Canadian oilsands, the Utica is Gulfport’s largest asset with 147,350 net acres under lease. The company has permits in Belmont, Harrison and Guernsey counties.

Gulfport also appointed Ty Peck as managing director of midstream operations this month. Peck joins the company from Access Midstream Partners LP, where he served most recently as director of commercial services.