Good Friday

 In observance of Good Friday, the Railroad Commission offices will be closed Friday, March 29, 2024. Staff will be on hand to respond to emergencies. Call toll-free at 844-773-0305.

 

Texas Drilling Permits and Completions Statistics for March 2018

April 06, 2018

AUSTIN – The Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) issued a total of 1,220 original drilling permits in March 2018 compared to 1,310 in March 2017. The March total included 1,002 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, 14 to re-enter plugged well bores and 204 for re-completions of existing well bores. The breakdown of well types for those permits issued March 2018 included 385 oil, 77 gas, 690 oil or gas, 82 injection, two service and 11 other permits.

In March 2018, Commission staff processed 656 oil, 173 gas, 35 injection and three other completions compared to 586 oil, 77 gas, 49 injection and zero other completions in March 2017. Total well completions processed for 2018 year to date are 2,712; up from 1,925 recorded in 2017.

According to Baker Hughes Inc., the Texas rig count as of April 6 was 498, 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 – MARCH 2018 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

116

51

10

(2) REFUGIO AREA

86

67

21

(3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS

54

37

17

(4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS

23

2

11

(5) EAST CENTRAL TX

12

7

4

(6) EAST TEXAS

41

14

35

(7B) WEST CENTRAL TX

49

7

2

(7C) SAN ANGELO AREA

74

59

2

(8) MIDLAND

618

363

53

(8A) LUBBOCK AREA

79

11

0

(9) NORTH TEXAS

44

27

10

(10) PANHANDLE

24

11

8

TOTAL

1,220

656

173

* 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/.