Texas Drilling Permits and Completions Statistics for March 2016

April 08, 2016

AUSTIN –– The Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) issued a total of 511 original drilling permits in March 2016 compared to 923 in March 2015. The March total included 407 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, five to re-enter plugged well bores and 99 for re-completions of existing well bores. The breakdown of well types for those permits issued March 2016 included 129 oil, 30 gas, 312 oil or gas, 30 injection and 10 other permits.

In March 2016, Commission staff processed 947 oil, 194 gas, 33 injection and eight other completions compared to 1,547 oil, 305 gas, 109 injection and nine other completions in March 2015. Total well completions for 2016 year to date are 3,452 down from 5,946 recorded during the same period in 2015.

According to Baker Hughes Inc., the Texas rig count as of April 8 was 197, representing about 44 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 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

44

126

41

(2) REFUGIO AREA

59

190

13

(3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS

18

25

38

(4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS

19

9

5

(5) EAST CENTRAL TX

5

4

3

(6) EAST TEXAS

14

23

16

(7B) WEST CENTRAL TX

18

13

2

(7C) SAN ANGELO AREA

57

63

1

(8) MIDLAND

192

401

27

(8A) LUBBOCK AREA

46

33

0

(9) NORTH TEXAS

33

47

22

(10) PANHANDLE

6

13

26

*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/.