Good Friday

 In observance of Good Friday, the Railroad Commission offices will be closed Friday, March 29, 2024. Staff will be on hand to respond to emergencies. Call toll-free at 844-773-0305.

 

Texas Drilling Permits and Completions Statistics for April 2018

May 10, 2018

AUSTIN –– The Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) issued a total of 1,221 original drilling permits in April 2018 compared to 909 in April 2017. The April total included 1,101 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, seven to re-enter plugged well bores and 113 for re-completions of existing well bores. The breakdown of well types for those permits issued April 2018 included 331 oil, 60 gas, 731 oil or gas, 87 injection, one service and 11 other permits.

In April 2018, Commission staff processed 616 oil, 134 gas, 48 injection and four other completions compared to 439 oil, 44 gas, 45 injection and two other completions in April 2017. Total well completions processed for 2018 year to date are 3,514; up from 2,455 recorded in 2017.

According to Baker Hughes Inc., the Texas rig count as of May 4 was 515, representing about 50 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 – APRIL 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

147

70

16

(2) REFUGIO AREA

105

42

21

(3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS

48

13

9

(4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS

21

0

7

(5) EAST CENTRAL TX

1

3

2

(6) EAST TEXAS

46

10

11

(7B) WEST CENTRAL TX

36

10

0

(7C) SAN ANGELO AREA

97

30

0

(8) MIDLAND

573

345

46

(8A) LUBBOCK AREA

71

71

0

(9) NORTH TEXAS

51

20

9

(10) PANHANDLE

25

2

13

TOTAL

1,221

616

134

* 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/.