Texas Drilling Permits and Completions Statistics for July 2017

August 10, 2017

AUSTIN –– The Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) issued a total of 1,011 original drilling permits in July 2017 compared to 631 in July 2016. The July total included 893 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, 10 to re-enter plugged well bores and 108 for re-completions of existing well bores. The breakdown of well types for those permits issued July 2017 included 273 oil, 77 gas, 601 oil or gas, 53 injection, zero service and seven other permits.

In July 2017, Commission staff processed 437 oil, 50 gas, 27 injection and two other completions compared to 568 oil, 243 gas, 44 injection and one other completions in July 2016. Total well completions processed for 2017 year to date are 4,388; down from 7,285 recorded during the same period in 2016.

According to Baker Hughes Inc., the Texas rig count as of August 4 was 466, 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 completion summaries web page

TABLE 1 – JULY 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

120

54

12

(2) REFUGIO AREA

61

19

7

(3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS

35

12

11

(4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS

14

3

5

(5) EAST CENTRAL TX

3

4

4

(6) EAST TEXAS

49

3

3

(7B) WEST CENTRAL TX

41

16

1

(7C) SAN ANGELO AREA

82

58

0

(8) MIDLAND

482

225

4

(8A) LUBBOCK AREA

47

28

0

(9) NORTH TEXAS

42

4

0

(10) PANHANDLE

35

11

3

TOTAL

1,011

437

50

* 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/.