NEW YORK – Natural gas production from Norse Energy’s wells in Central New York has declined over the previous quarter due to reduced drilling and the lack of production from several wells that are presently shut-in or awaiting pipeline.

The production averaged an estimated 6,775 million cubic feet per day in the third quarter. This represents a decrease of approximately 15 percent over the second quarter production level, according to a company shareholders’ report.

However, Dennis Holbrook, an attorney for Norse, said the business is “still going strong, pursuing the Herkimer and anticipating additional drilling throughout the region.”

Two Herkimer wells in Smyrna and one in Plymouth were recently competed. Workers will most likely move the company’s rig onto three sites that are permitted along county Road 21 in Plymouth, all within a 1/4 of a mile of each other. The Chenango County Highway Department was recently contacted for permits to bore under the roadway in two places. Public Works Director Randy Gibbon said the permits were issued.