Texas Drilling Permit and Completion Statistics for March 2023

April 12, 2023

AUSTIN – The Railroad Commission of Texas issued a total of 1,052 original drilling permits in March 2023. The total includes 922 to drill new oil or gas wells, 10 to re-enter plugged wellbores and 107 for re-completions of existing wellbores.

The breakdown of well types for total original drilling permits in March 2023 is: 272 oil, 55 gas, 672 oil and gas, 42 injection, one service, and 10 other permits.

In March 2023, Commission staff processed 1,126 oil, 260 gas and 836 injection completions for new drills, re-entries and re-completions.

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 – MARCH 2023 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

167

114

23

(2) REFUGIO AREA

76

33

29

(3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS

16

9

4

(4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS

5

2

15

(5) EAST CENTRAL TX

5

9

1

(6) EAST TEXAS

29

8

35

(7B) WEST CENTRAL TX

14

18

0

(7C) SAN ANGELO AREA

97

114

0

(8) MIDLAND

434

612

112

(8A) LUBBOCK AREA

27

21

0

(9) NORTH TEXAS

44

17

5

(10) PANHANDLE

8

1

11

TOTAL

922

958

235

*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/.