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 December 2019

December 02, 2019

AUSTIN ––The Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) issued a total of 803 original drilling permits in December 2019 compared to 811 in December 2018. The December 2019 total included 743 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, 8 to re-enter plugged well bores and 52 for re-completions of existing well bores. The breakdown of well types for those permits is 162 oil, 37 gas, 571 oil or gas, 23 injection, zero service and 10 other permits.

 

In December 2019, Commission staff processed 491 oil, 98 gas, 17 injection and three other completions compared to 564 oil, 156 gas, 27 injection and three other completions in December 2018. Total well completions processed for 2019 year to date are 9,238; down from 10,986 recorded during the same time period in 2018.

 

According to Baker Hughes Inc., the Texas rig count as of Jan. 3 was 403, representing about 51 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 – DECEMBER 2019 TEXAS OIL AND GAS DRILLING PERMITS AND COMPLETIONS BY RAILROAD COMMISSION OF TEXAS DISTRICT*

DISTRICT

PERMITS TO DRILL OIL/GAS HOLES

NEW OIL COMPLETIONS

NEW GAS COMPLETIONS

(1) SAN ANTONIO AREA

102

68

20

(2) REFUGIO AREA

92

56

14

(3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS

24

17

3

(4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS

10

0

4

(5) EAST CENTRAL TX

4

0

0

(6) EAST TEXAS

19

5

3

(7B) WEST CENTRAL TX

13

6

2

(7C) SAN ANGELO AREA

53

21

0

(8) MIDLAND

430

264

46

(8A) LUBBOCK AREA

23

15

0

(9) NORTH TEXAS

22

35

4

(10) PANHANDLE

11

4

2

TOTAL

803

491

98

*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/.