Texas Drilling Permit and Completion Statistics for September 2021

October 13, 2021

AUSTIN – The Railroad Commission of Texas issued a total of 801 original drilling permits in September 2021 compared to 437 in September 2020. The September 2021 total includes 714 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, four to re-enter plugged wellbores, and 77 for re-completions of existing wellbores.

The breakdown of well types for original drilling permits in September 2021 is 179 oil, 77 gas, 502 oil or gas, 38 injection, and five other permits.

In September 2021, Commission staff processed 581 oil, 158 gas and 265 injection completions for new drills, re-entries and re-completions, compared to 902 oil, 147 gas, and 119 injection completions in September 2020.

Total well completions processed for 2021 year-to-date for new drills, re-entries and re-completions are 7,016 compared to 11,917 recorded during the same period in 2020.

Detailed data on drilling permits and well completions for the month can be found at this link:

https://www.rrc.texas.gov/oil-and-gas/research-and-statistics/drilling-information/monthly-drilling-completion-and-plugging-summaries/

 

TABLE 1 SEPTEMBER 2021 TEXAS OIL AND GAS NEW DRILLING PERMITS AND COMPLETIONS BY RAILROAD COMMISSION OF TEXAS DISTRICT*

DISTRICT

PERMITS TO DRILL
NEW OIL/GAS HOLES

NEW OIL COMPLETIONS

NEW GAS COMPLETIONS

(1) SAN ANTONIO AREA

75

42

31

(2) REFUGIO AREA

53

28

13

(3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS

22

9

6

(4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS

8

1

6

(5) EAST CENTRAL TX

6

0

0

(6) EAST TEXAS

38

1

21

(7B) WEST CENTRAL TX

19

8

1

(7C) SAN ANGELO AREA

35

52

0

(8) MIDLAND

382

314

56

(8A) LUBBOCK AREA

25

13

0

(9) NORTH TEXAS

30

20

5

(10) PANHANDLE

21

7

2

TOTAL

714

495

141

*A district map is available on the Railroad Commission of Texas website at https://rrc.texas.gov/media/3bkhbut0/districts_color_8x11.pdf.


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/.