Texas Granted Primacy Over Class VI Wells

AUSTIN – The Railroad Commission of Texas is taking important steps to help ensure adequate natural gas supply to keep Texans safe this winter season. These include important weatherization inspections of critical natural gas facilities currently being conducted throughout the state by the Critical Infrastructure Division.

As part of the agency’s commitment to protecting Texans during extreme weather events, CID conducted more than 7,400 inspections of natural gas facilities for weatherization preparedness in FY25 and has already begun work on the FY26 Extreme Cold Inspection Schedule. For the new fiscal year, CID has inspected 100% of Tier One facilities, which are critical components of gas supply. Tier One facilities are oil and gas leases that produce more than 5 million cubic feet of gas daily, gas processing plants, underground gas storage facilities and natural gas pipelines that directly connect to electricity generation plants.

To further strengthen preparedness, CID recently hosted a tabletop exercise with operators. The session provided guidance on inspection readiness, emergency management practices and weather‑related resources to ensure operators have the tools and knowledge needed as Texas heads into the winter months.

Additionally, underground natural gas storage provides a critical reserve that can be drawn upon during severe weather emergencies. As of November 30, 2025, the RRC reported approximately 524.9 billion cubic feet of working gas in storage, which is the highest monthly total recorded in more than 25 years of tracking volumes.

“From electric generation to home heating, the RRC is committed to helping keep Texas prepared for winter weather," said Wei Wang, RRC Executive Director. “This includes ongoing inspections and collaborations with oil and gas operators. We take every step we can to make sure gas flows when we need it, and we want to reassure Texans that the agency takes an all-hands-on deck approach to protect residents in weather-related emergencies. From gas production to gas storage, Texas is seeing more gas than ever with historic highs.”

The RRC’s winter weatherization inspections of critical natural gas facilities will continue through the end of March.