Texas Drilling Permits and Completions Statistics for May 2017

June 09, 2017

AUSTIN –– The Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) issued a total of 1,021 original drilling permits in May 2017 compared to 606 in May 2016. The May total included 841 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, 25 to re-enter plugged well bores and 155 for re-completions of existing well bores. The breakdown of well types for those permits issued May 2017 included 274 oil, 43 gas, 619 oil or gas, 64 injection, one service and 20 other permits.

In May 2017, Commission staff processed 593 oil, 115 gas, 60 injection and zero other completions compared to 760 oil, 199 gas, 60 injection and 11 other completions in May 2016. Total well completions processed for 2017 year to date are 3,223; down from 5,529 recorded during the same period in 2016.

According to Baker Hughes Inc., the Texas rig count as of June 9 was 460, 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 – MAY 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

93

61

29

(2) REFUGIO AREA

97

64

7

(3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS

34

17

13

(4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS

41

6

7

(5) EAST CENTRAL TX

6

2

3

(6) EAST TEXAS

28

4

14

(7B) WEST CENTRAL TX

22

22

3

(7C) SAN ANGELO AREA

96

31

0

(8) MIDLAND

444

266

26

(8A) LUBBOCK AREA

86

83

0

(9) NORTH TEXAS

40

22

7

(10) PANHANDLE

34

15

6

TOTAL

1,021

593

115

* A district map is available on the Railroad Commission of Texas website 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/.