Oil and Gas Inspections Exceed Expectations for Fiscal Year 2020

April 23, 2020

AUSTIN – Oil and gas inspectors at the Railroad Commission of Texas have already surpassed annual inspection targets, even with more than four months remaining in the fiscal year.

The Texas Legislature sets performance measures tied to agency budgeting for each state fiscal year. For Fiscal Year 2020 the target for oil and gas well and facility inspections was 189,367. As of this week, 218,995 have been conducted. Also this week, RRC exceeded the 5-year well inspection frequency goal for the year.

Inspections include responding to incidents and complaints; conducting routine well inspections; and witnessing critical well operations including setting surface casing to protect groundwater, mechanical integrity tests and well pluggings.

“These performance numbers indicate the hard effort of dedicated staff in our district offices statewide,” said Clay Woodul, RRC Oil and Gas Division Assistant Director for Field Operations. “Our work is critical to ensuring the safety of the public and the environment in Texas. We continue those important tasks even as work routines have changed during the current COVID-19 pandemic.”

The Commission has an online tool, RRC OIL, that allows the public and oil and gas operators to lookup inspection and violation data recorded during inspections of oil and gas leases, wells, facilities and other sites.

Read about RRC OIL


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/.