Top Story | First Quarter (1Q) Update
Gulfport Touts Super Long Lateral and Strategic Pivot To Gas Asset
Record-Setting Efficiency and Lateral Lengths Define the Quarter
In the core Utica and Marcellus plays, Gulfport pushed the technical frontier:
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15,000 feet: The average lateral length on wells turned to sales in Q1 — among the longest in Appalachia.
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105.5 hours: A company record for continuous pumping on a single pad, achieved in April, underscoring its completions team's operational consistency and logistics execution.
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+28%: Drilling speed increased nearly a third over 2024’s average, allowing faster capital deployment with fewer rig days.
This operational excellence wasn’t confined to one region — it spanned Gulfport's footprint. While SCOOP activity remained measured, it still contributed completions with laterals of 11,500 feet, showing continued technical proficiency.
Financial Discipline Meets Strong Gas Realizations
Despite a front-loaded capital program in Q1, Gulfport delivered $36.6 million in adjusted free cash flow and reaffirmed its full-year 2025 guidance, even while repurchasing $60 million in stock at an average price of $176.13.
Key financial results
Standout: Gulfport’s realized natural gas price of $4.11/Mcf — achieved through premium basin exposure and takeaway strategy — stands out in a sector still grappling with regional basis pressure. This pricing power translated to robust EBITDA margins.
Strategic Shift: Betting on Dry Gas
A key decision in Q1 was Gulfport’s plan to reallocate capital toward dry gas Utica development in late 2025. The rationale is simple:
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Improved 2026 economics: High-return locations positioned to benefit from recovering gas prices.
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Operational optionality: Gulfport can shift activity rapidly based on market signals — a strategic advantage not all peers possess.
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Portfolio balance: The move reinforces the core Utica asset base while maintaining optional exposure to the SCOOP.
What Stands Out?
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Gas Premiums: A $0.45/Mcf uplift to Henry Hub in a congested basin is a rare advantage — showcasing Gulfport’s infrastructure access and marketing strength.
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14% Growth in Liquids Production YoY: Underscoring increasing balance in the production mix and margin enhancement.
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15,000 ft Laterals: Among the longest in Appalachia, suggesting longer-term productivity improvements and EUR uplift.
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Operational Records: Continuous pumping hours, drilling speed, and lateral lengths — all reflect a mature well factory model with room for scale.
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