Texas Drilling Permits and Completions Statistics for October 2015

November 10, 2015

AUSTIN –– The Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) issued a total of 822 original drilling permits in October 2015 compared to 3,046 in October 2014. The October total included 689 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, four to re-enter plugged well bores and 129 for re-completions of existing well bores. The breakdown of well types for those permits issued in October 2015 included 198 oil, 54 gas, 524 oil or gas, 34 injection, one service and 11 other permits.

In October 2015, Commission staff processed 1,138 oil, 196 gas, 53 injection and nine other completions compared to 2,035 oil, 354 gas, 63 injection and three other completions in October 2014. Total well completions for 2015 year to date are 17,545 down from 25,604 recorded during the same period in 2014.

According to Baker Hughes Inc., the Texas rig count as of November 6 was 340, representing about 44 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 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

106

190

46

(2) REFUGIO AREA

92

105

14

(3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS

39

31

8

(4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS

30

14

16

(5) EAST CENTRAL TX

6

6

2

(6) EAST TEXAS

29

10

12

(7B) WEST CENTRAL TX

22

20

3

(7C) SAN ANGELO AREA

89

89

2

(8) MIDLAND

256

551

27

(8A) LUBBOCK AREA

80

39

0

(9) NORTH TEXAS

52

45

5

(10) PANHANDLE

21

38

61

*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/.