Texas Drilling Permits and Completions Statistics for February 2016

March 08, 2016

AUSTIN –– The Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) issued a total of 573 original drilling permits in February 2016 compared to 924 in February 2015. The February total included 455 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, 19 to re-enter plugged well bores and 99 for re-completions of existing well bores. The breakdown of well types for those permits issued February 2016 included 159 oil, 28 gas, 352 oil or gas, 26 injection, five service and three other permits.

In February 2016, Commission staff processed 822 oil, 186 gas, 57 injection and one other completions compared to 1,521 oil, 210 gas, 245 injection and three other completions in February 2015. Total well completions for 2016 year to date are 2,270 down from 3,979 recorded during the same period in 2015.

According to Baker Hughes Inc., the Texas rig count as of March 4 was 227, representing about 46 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 – FEBRUARY 2016 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

64

118

37

(2) REFUGIO AREA

80

132

21

(3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS

24

42

25

(4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS

7

1

14

(5) EAST CENTRAL TX

2

6

0

(6) EAST TEXAS

19

14

13

(7B) WEST CENTRAL TX

26

22

5

(7C) SAN ANGELO AREA

58

28

0

(8) MIDLAND

215

336

29

(8A) LUBBOCK AREA

41

50

0

(9) NORTH TEXAS

25

71

24

(10) PANHANDLE

12

2

18

*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 more than 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/.