Texas Drilling Permits and Completions Statistics for September 2017

October 11, 2017

AUSTIN –– The Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) issued a total of 903 original drilling permits in September 2017 compared to 746 in September 2016. The September total included 781 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, 16 to re-enter plugged well bores and 106 for re-completions of existing well bores. The breakdown of well types for those permits issued September 2017 included 215 oil, 64 gas, 554 oil or gas, 58 injection, one service and 11 other permits.

In September 2017, Commission staff processed 318 oil, 101 gas, 40 injection and four other completions compared to 430 oil, 155 gas, 38 injection and seven other completions in September 2016. Total well completions processed for 2017 year to date are 5,408; down from 8,737 recorded during the same period in 2016.

According to Baker Hughes Inc., the Texas rig count as of October 6 was 448, representing about 48 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 – SEPTEMBER 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

70

35

13

(2) REFUGIO AREA

89

19

10

(3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS

38

10

7

(4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS

22

8

24

(5) EAST CENTRAL TX

8

2

8

(6) EAST TEXAS

26

5

13

(7B) WEST CENTRAL TX

35

19

7

(7C) SAN ANGELO AREA

68

76

0

(8) MIDLAND

447

84

11

(8A) LUBBOCK AREA

49

38

0

(9) NORTH TEXAS

27

11

4

(10) PANHANDLE

24

11

4

TOTAL

903

318

101

* 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/.