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 April 2017

May 09, 2017

AUSTIN –– The Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) issued a total of 909 original drilling permits in April 2017 compared to 683 in April 2016. The April total included 821 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, nine to re-enter plugged well bores and 79 for re-completions of existing well bores. The breakdown of well types for those permits issued April 2017 included 223 oil, 55 gas, 576 oil or gas, 36 injection, one service and 18 other permits.

In April 2017, Commission staff processed 439 oil, 44 gas, 45 injection and two other completions compared to 873 oil, 120 gas, 49 injection and five other completions in April 2016. Total well completions processed for 2017 year to date are 2,455; down from 4,499 recorded during the same period in 2016.

According to Baker Hughes Inc., the Texas rig count as of May 5 was 443, representing about 50 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 – APRIL 2017 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

183

54

13

(2) REFUGIO AREA

60

46

3

(3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS

43

12

2

(4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS

24

9

8

(5) EAST CENTRAL TX

8

6

0

(6) EAST TEXAS

28

6

0

(7B) WEST CENTRAL TX

23

15

3

(7C) SAN ANGELO AREA

51

51

0

(8) MIDLAND

401

185

11

(8A) LUBBOCK AREA

34

23

0

(9) NORTH TEXAS

29

19

3

(10) PANHANDLE

25

13

1

TOTAL

909

439

44

* 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/.