Texas Drilling Permits and Completions Statistics for February 2019

March 08, 2019

AUSTIN –– The Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) issued a total of 961 original drilling permits in February 2019 compared 1,097 in February 2018. The February 2019 total included 887 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, seven to re-enter plugged well bores and 67 for re-completions of existing well bores. The breakdown of well types for those permits is 246 oil, 54 gas, 597 oil or gas, 60 injection, zero service and four other permits.

In February 2019, Commission staff processed 584 oil, 175 gas, 21 injection and four other completions compared to 672 oil, 149 gas, 56 injection and five other completions in February 2018. Total well completions processed for 2019 year to date are 1,804; down from 1,845 recorded during the same time period in 2018.

According to Baker Hughes Inc., the Texas rig count as of March 8 was 502, representing about 49 percent of all active rigs in the United States.

For additional drilling permit and completion statistics, visit the Commission’s monthly drilling summaries webpage.

TABLE 1 – FEBRUARY 2019 TEXAS OIL AND GAS DRILLING PERMITS AND COMPLETIONS BY RAILROAD COMMISSION OF TEXAS DISTRICT*

DISTRICT
PERMITS TO DRILL OIL/GAS HOLES
NEW OIL COMPLETIONS
NEW GAS COMPLETIONS

(1) SAN ANTONIO AREA

122

62

44

(2) REFUGIO AREA

94

60

34

(3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS

28

43

8

(4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS

18

5

4

(5) EAST CENTRAL TX

2

6

2

(6) EAST TEXAS

31

12

24

(7B) WEST CENTRAL TX

15

28

2

(7C) SAN ANGELO AREA

74

68

1

(8) MIDLAND

497

204

47

(8A) LUBBOCK AREA

30

40

0

(9) NORTH TEXAS

40

34

3

(10) PANHANDLE

10

22

6

TOTAL

961

584

175


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/.