Good Friday

 In observance of Good Friday, the Railroad Commission offices will be closed Friday, March 28, 2024. Staff will be on hand to respond to emergencies. Call toll-free at 844-773-0305.

 

Texas Drilling Permits and Completions Statistics for August 2019

September 10, 2019

AUSTIN –– The Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) issued a total of 960 original drilling permits in August 2019 compared 1,110 in August 2018. The August 2019 total included 865 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, eight to re-enter plugged well bores and 87 for re-completions of existing well bores. The breakdown of well types for those permits is 229 oil, 49 gas, 605 oil or gas, 50 injection, two service and 15 other permits. 

In August 2019, Commission staff processed 446 oil, 103 gas, 27 injection and two other completions compared to 601 oil, 123 gas, 56 injection and three other completions in August 2018. Total well completions processed for 2019 year to date are 6,327; down from 7,297 recorded during the same time period in 2018. 

According to Baker Hughes Inc., the Texas rig count as of Sept. 6 was 438, representing about 49 percent of all active rigs in the United States. 

For additional drilling permit and completion statistics, visit the Commission’s Drilling Completion Summaries web page. 

 

TABLE 1 – AUGUST 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

90

22

14

(2) REFUGIO AREA

72

8

6

(3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS

49

8

9

(4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS

16

2

6

(5) EAST CENTRAL TX

7

0

4

(6) EAST TEXAS

43

3

27

(7B) WEST CENTRAL TX

37

10

1

(7C) SAN ANGELO AREA

71

16

1

(8) MIDLAND

495

336

31

(8A) LUBBOCK AREA

41

15

0

(9) NORTH TEXAS

34

25

2

(10) PANHANDLE

5

1

2

TOTAL

960

446

103

*A district map is available here, on the Railroad Commission of Texas website.


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/.