Texas Drilling Permits and Completions Statistics for January 2018

February 09, 2018

AUSTIN – The Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) issued a total of 1,166 original drilling permits in January 2018 compared to 956 in January 2017. The January total included 1,036 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, 18 to re-enter plugged well bores and 112 for re-completions of existing well bores. The breakdown of well types for those permits issued January 2018 included 243 oil, 78 gas, 784 oil or gas, 55 injection, two service and four other permits.

In January 2018, Commission staff processed 739 oil, 179 gas, 44 injection and one other completions compared to 418 oil, 84 gas, 31 injection and three other completions in January 2017. Total well completions processed for 2018 are 963; up from 536 recorded in 2017.

According to Baker Hughes Inc., the Texas rig count as of February 9 was 479, representing about 49 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 2018 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

159

67

48

(2) REFUGIO AREA

96

21

17

(3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS

39

16

6

(4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS

25

7

10

(5) EAST CENTRAL TX

9

5

4

(6) EAST TEXAS

58

6

40

(7B) WEST CENTRAL TX

51

9

4

(7C) SAN ANGELO AREA

89

73

1

(8) MIDLAND

514

460

34

(8A) LUBBOCK AREA

53

17

0

(9) NORTH TEXAS

48

45

5

(10) PANHANDLE

25

13

10

TOTAL

1,166

739

179

* 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/.