Texas Drilling Permits and Completions Statistics for January 2021

February 05, 2021

AUSTIN – The Railroad Commission of Texas issued a total of 512 original drilling permits in January 2021 compared to 1,156 in January 2020. The January 2021 total includes 446 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, two to re-enter plugged well bores, and six for re-completions of existing well bores.

The breakdown of well types for original drilling permits in January 2021 is 101 oil, 39 gas, 353 oil or gas, 13 injection, and six other permits.

In January 2021, Commission staff processed 583 oil, 104 gas and 66 injection completions for new drills, re-entries and re-completions, compared to 927 oil, 222 gas, and 157 injection completions in January 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 JANUARY 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

46

48

2

(2) REFUGIO AREA

49

48

20

(3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS

8

19

4

(4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS

1

2

4

(5) EAST CENTRAL TX

0

1

0

(6) EAST TEXAS

14

1

10

(7B) WEST CENTRAL TX

14

3

2

(7C) SAN ANGELO AREA

29

72

0

(8) MIDLAND

263

313

48

(8A) LUBBOCK AREA

7

0

0

(9) NORTH TEXAS

6

13

1

(10) PANHANDLE

9

2

0

TOTAL

446

522

91

*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/.