Texas Drilling Permits and Completions Statistics for October 2017

November 08, 2017

AUSTIN –– The Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) issued a total of 997 original drilling permits in October 2017 compared to 855 in October 2016. The October total included 885 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, 5 to re-enter plugged well bores and 107 for re-completions of existing well bores. The breakdown of well types for those permits issued October 2017 included 236 oil, 46 gas, 646 oil or gas, 48 injection, zero service and 21 other permits.

In October 2017, Commission staff processed 257 oil, 91 gas, 39 injection and four other completions compared to 445 oil, 203 gas, 20 injection and zero other completions in October 2016. Total well completions processed for 2017 year to date are 5,799; down from 9,405 recorded during the same period in 2016.

According to Baker Hughes Inc., the Texas rig count as of November 2 was 444, 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 – OCTOBER 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

126

36

19

(2) REFUGIO AREA

91

15

10

(3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS

34

10

5

(4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS

35

4

10

(5) EAST CENTRAL TX

5

5

2

(6) EAST TEXAS

34

1

18

(7B) WEST CENTRAL TX

39

27

0

(7C) SAN ANGELO AREA

79

46

1

(8) MIDLAND

440

83

16

(8A) LUBBOCK AREA

62

12

0

(9) NORTH TEXAS

26

9

6

(10) PANHANDLE

26

9

4

TOTAL

997

257

91

* 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/.