Open Meeting

The Railroad Commission of Texas will hold an open meeting at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 in Room 7-100, Seventh Floor of the William B. Travis Building. To view the open meeting via webcast, visit the AdminMonitor website at https://adminmonitor.com/tx/rrc/.

Public GIS Viewer General Maintenance

Due to general maintenance, Public GIS Viewer will be unavailable beginning at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 21 until 6 p.m. on Sunday, June 22, 2025.

RRC Extends Successful Orphan Well Plugging Streak

September 06, 2024

The final numbers have been tallied, and the Railroad Commission plugged 1,012 orphan wells in Fiscal Year 2024 using state funds. This exceeded the fiscal year’s goal of plugging 1,000 wells with state funds, making it the eighth year in a row in which the RRC has surpassed its legislative target!

State funds that are used by the RRC to plug wells are from oil and gas industry revenue, including, but not limited to, well plugging reimbursements, fees and bonds or other financial securities paid by the industry.

“We continue to be a national leader in addressing orphaned wells,” said Danny Sorrells, RRC Deputy Executive Director. “Our extensive well plugging experience dates to 1984, and elements of our program, such as a prioritization system that ensures high-risk, high-priority wells are plugged, have been copied by other states. The design of RRC’s plugging program and our dedicated staff help us quickly work to protect groundwater around the state.”

Watch this video from the field to see more on how the RRC’s decades of well plugging experience helps protect Texas communities and the environment https://youtu.be/QrT0ox-Wtvk.

                                                                                                 # # #


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/.