Texas Drilling Permits and Completions Statistics for July 2016

August 10, 2016

AUSTIN –– The Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) issued a total of 631 original drilling permits in July 2016 compared to 979 in July 2015. The July total included 514 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, seven to re-enter plugged well bores and 110 for re-completions of existing well bores. The breakdown of well types for those permits issued July 2016 included 166 oil, 34 gas, 397 oil or gas, 27 injection, zero service and seven other permits.

In July 2016, Commission staff processed 568 oil, 243 gas, 44 injection and one other completions compared to 1,510 oil, 235 gas, 37 injection and nine other completions in July 2015. Total well completions for 2016 year to date are 7,285 down from 13,333 recorded during the same period in 2015.

According to Baker Hughes Inc., the Texas rig count as of August 5 was 217, representing about 47 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 – JULY 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

85

51

69

(2) REFUGIO AREA

29

64

74

(3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS

28

47

8

(4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS

22

2

9

(5) EAST CENTRAL TX

7

18

7

(6) EAST TEXAS

14

6

16

(7B) WEST CENTRAL TX

30

27

2

(7C) SAN ANGELO AREA

62

42

4

(8) MIDLAND

229

250

14

(8A) LUBBOCK AREA

67

31

0

(9) NORTH TEXAS

42

24

24

(10) PANHANDLE

16

6

16

TOTAL

631

568

243

*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/.