Texas Drilling Permits and Completions Statistics for May 2021

June 02, 2021

AUSTIN – The Railroad Commission of Texas issued a total of 631 original drilling permits in May 2021 compared to 251 in May 2020. The May 2021 total includes 551 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, three to re-enter plugged well bores, and 75 for re-completions of existing well bores.

The breakdown of well types for original drilling permits in May 2021 is 157 oil, 67 gas, 378 oil or gas, 21 injection, and eight other permits.

In May 2021, Commission staff processed 457 oil, 141 gas and 134 injection completions for new drills, re-entries and re-completions, compared to 919 oil, 300 gas, and 117 injection completions in May 2020.

Total well completions processed for 2021 year-to-date for new drills, re-entries and re-completions are 3,595 compared to 6,589 recorded during the same period in 2020.

Detailed data on drilling permits and well completions for the month can be found at this link:

https://www.rrc.texas.gov/oil-and-gas/research-and-statistics/drilling-information/monthly-drilling-completion-and-plugging-summaries/

 

TABLE 1 MAY 2021

TEXAS OIL AND GAS NEW DRILLING PERMITS AND COMPLETIONS BY RAILROAD COMMISSION OF TEXAS DISTRICT*

DISTRICT

PERMITS TO DRILL NEW OIL/GAS HOLES

NEW OIL COMPLETIONS

NEW GAS COMPLETIONS

(1) SAN ANTONIO AREA

87

11

10

(2) REFUGIO AREA

22

39

13

(3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS

29

11

6

(4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS

5

0

9

(5) EAST CENTRAL TX

1

2

1

(6) EAST TEXAS

15

1

20

(7B) WEST CENTRAL TX

15

13

1

(7C) SAN ANGELO AREA

44

30

1

(8) MIDLAND

287

268

41

(8A) LUBBOCK AREA

18

7

0

(9) NORTH TEXAS

20

13

2

(10) PANHANDLE

8

2

2

TOTAL

551

397

106

*A district map is available on the Railroad Commission of Texas website at https://rrc.texas.gov/media/3bkhbut0/districts_color_8x11.pdf.


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/.