Texas Drilling Permits and Completions Statistics for January 2016

February 08, 2016

AUSTIN –– The Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) issued a total of 510 original drilling permits in January 2016 compared to 1,102 in January 2015. The January total included 425 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, five to re-enter plugged well bores and 80 for re-completions of existing well bores. The breakdown of well types for those permits issued January 2016 included 141 oil, 41 gas, 282 oil or gas, 35 injection, two service and nine other permits.

In January 2016, Commission staff processed 951 oil, 197 gas, 52 injection and four other completions compared to 1,450 oil, 344 gas, 198 injection and five other completions in January 2015. Total well completions for 2016 year to date are 1,204 down from 1,997 recorded during the same period in 2015.

According to Baker Hughes Inc., the Texas rig count as of February 5 was 262, representing about 46 percent of all active rigs in the United States.

For additional drilling permit and completion statistics, visit the Commission’s monthly drilling completion summaries web page.


TABLE 1
 – JANUARY 2016 TEXAS OIL AND GAS DRILLING PERMITS AND COMPLETIONS BY RAILROAD COMMISSION OF TEXAS DISTRICT*

DISTRICT

PERMITS TO DRILL OIL/GAS HOLES

OIL COMPLETIONS

GAS COMPLETIONS

(1) SAN ANTONIO AREA

84

171

55

(2) REFUGIO AREA

48

147

17

(3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS

21

14

12

(4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS

9

7

4

(5) EAST CENTRAL TX

4

0

0

(6) EAST TEXAS

22

2

10

(7B) WEST CENTRAL TX

18

26

2

(7C) SAN ANGELO AREA

44

77

1

(8) MIDLAND

166

338

20

(8A) LUBBOCK AREA

45

27

0

(9) NORTH TEXAS

35

121

26

(10) PANHANDLE

14

21

50

*A district map is available on the Railroad Commission of Texas here.


About the Railroad Commission:
Our mission is to serve Texas by our stewardship of natural resources and the environment, our concern for personal and community safety, and our support of enhanced development and economic vitality for the benefit of Texans. The Commission has a long and proud history of service to both Texas and to the nation, including almost 100 years regulating the oil and gas industry. The Commission also has jurisdiction over alternative fuels safety, natural gas utilities, surface mining and intrastate pipelines. Established in 1891, the Railroad Commission of Texas is the oldest regulatory agency in the state. To learn more, please visit https://www.rrc.texas.gov/about-us/.