Texas Drilling Permit and Completion Statistics for December 2021

January 13, 2022

AUSTIN – The Railroad Commission of Texas issued a total of 842 original drilling permits in December 2021 compared to 468 in December 2020. The December 2021 total includes 756 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, six to re-enter plugged wellbores, and 77 for re-completions of existing wellbores.

The breakdown of well types for original drilling permits in December 2021 is 179 oil, 65 gas, 552 oil or gas, 38 injection, and eight other permits.

In December 2021, Commission staff processed 605 oil, 99 gas and 211 injection completions for new drills, re-entries and re-completions, compared to 493 oil, 77 gas, and 116 injection completions in December 2020.

Total well completions processed for 2021 year-to-date for new drills, re-entries and re-completions are 9,269 compared to 14,140 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 DECEMBER 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

84

29

14

(2) REFUGIO AREA

54

35

3

(3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS

14

8

2

(4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS

13

1

8

(5) EAST CENTRAL TX

3

1

2

(6) EAST TEXAS

31

3

5

(7B) WEST CENTRAL TX

11

6

0

(7C) SAN ANGELO AREA

54

68

1

(8) MIDLAND

416

330

31

(8A) LUBBOCK AREA

16

14

0

(9) NORTH TEXAS

52

10

4

(10) PANHANDLE

8

7

1

TOTAL

756

512

71

*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/.