Texas Drilling Permits and Completions Statistics for February 2017

March 10, 2017

AUSTIN –– The Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) issued a total of 991 original drilling permits in February 2017 compared to 573 in February 2016. The February total included 847 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, 11 to re-enter plugged well bores and 133 for re-completions of existing well bores. The breakdown of well types for those permits issued February 2017 included 258 oil, 37 gas, 640 oil or gas, 43 injection, one service and 12 other permits.

In February 2017, Commission staff processed 533 oil, 95 gas, 49 injection and zero other completions compared to 822 oil, 186 gas, 57 injection and one other completions in February 2016. Total well completions for 2017 year to date are 1,213; down from 2,270 recorded during the same period in 2016.

According to Baker Hughes Inc., the Texas rig count as of March 10 was 392, representing about 51 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
 – FEBRUARY 2017 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

133

64

25

(2) REFUGIO AREA

135

98

22

(3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS

28

47

9

(4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS

17

12

4

(5) EAST CENTRAL TX

13

6

0

(6) EAST TEXAS

19

7

10

(7B) WEST CENTRAL TX

26

18

1

(7C) SAN ANGELO AREA

56

70

0

(8) MIDLAND

434

154

9

(8A) LUBBOCK AREA

74

21

0

(9) NORTH TEXAS

31

31

5

(10) PANHANDLE

25

5

10

TOTAL

991

533

95

*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/.