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Anadarko Petroleum Corp. (APC) has obtained permits to drill a well in the Utica Shale formation in eastern Ohio, according to the state's oil and gas regulator. The move makes the Houston company the latest energy firm to enter the latest big North American oil discovery. Anadarko obtained this month permits to drill a horizontal well in Guernsey County targeting the Utica Shale, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Sparsely populated Guernsey County is located about 90 miles east of Columbus. While Anadarko has been quieter about its activities in Ohio than some of its competitors, which include Hess Corp. (HES), Devon Energy Corp. (DVN) and Chesapeake Energy Corp. (CHK), the drilling permits show the Houston explorer has gained a foothold in the state. The size of Anadarko's position in the Utica Shale was not included in the information made public by the Ohio regulator. Anadarko didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Last week Hess said it spent more than $ 1.34 billion acquiring 185,000 acres in Ohio. The New York company spent $ 593 million on a 50% interest in 200,000 acres held by Consol Energy Inc. (CNX) and spent another $ 750 million acquiring closely held Marquette Exploration LLC, which had 85,000 acres in the shale. Copyright © 2011 Dow Jones Newswires