Texas Drilling Permits and Completions Statistics for April 2016

May 10, 2016

AUSTIN –– The Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) issued a total of 683 original drilling permits in April 2016 compared to 848 in April 2015. The April total included 473 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, 12 to re-enter plugged well bores and 198 for re-completions of existing well bores. The breakdown of well types for those permits issued April 2016 included 209 oil, 36 gas, 403 oil or gas, 25 injection, zero service and 10 other permits.

In April 2016, Commission staff processed 873 oil, 120 gas, 49 injection and five other completions compared to 1,867 oil, 314 gas, 125 injection and one other completions in April 2015. Total well completions for 2016 year to date are 4,499 down from 8,253 recorded during the same period in 2015.

According to Baker Hughes Inc., the Texas rig count as of May 6 was 188, representing about 45 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 – APRIL 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

77

93

15

(2) REFUGIO AREA

75

150

15

(3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS

21

42

19

(4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS

18

3

11

(5) EAST CENTRAL TX

5

3

1

(6) EAST TEXAS

17

12

21

(7B) WEST CENTRAL TX

29

24

2

(7C) SAN ANGELO AREA

35

55

8

(8) MIDLAND

269

402

9

(8A) LUBBOCK AREA

101

31

0

(9) NORTH TEXAS

25

37

7

(10) PANHANDLE

11

21

12

*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/.