Texas Drilling Permits and Completions Statistics for November 2017

December 11, 2017

AUSTIN –– The Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) issued a total of 1,187 original drilling permits in November 2017 compared to 673 in November 2016. The November total included 955 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, 11 to re-enter plugged well bores and 221 for re-completions of existing well bores. The breakdown of well types for those permits issued November 2017 included 358 oil, 66 gas, 682 oil or gas, 57 injection, zero service and 24 other permits.

In November 2017, Commission staff processed 388 oil, 74 gas, 29 injection and one other completions compared to 342 oil, 151 gas, 24 injection and one other completions in November 2016. Total well completions processed for 2017 year to date are 6,291; down from 9,923 recorded during the same period in 2016.

According to Baker Hughes Inc., the Texas rig count as of December 8 was 459, representing about 49 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 – NOVEMBER 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

131

24

2

(2) REFUGIO AREA

71

27

11

(3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS

35

7

3

(4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS

19

1

3

(5) EAST CENTRAL TX

10

3

0

(6) EAST TEXAS

41

12

23

(7B) WEST CENTRAL TX

45

9

0

(7C) SAN ANGELO AREA

59

49

0

(8) MIDLAND

657

207

16

(8A) LUBBOCK AREA

65

27

0

(9) NORTH TEXAS

33

17

2

(10) PANHANDLE

21

5

14

TOTAL

1,187

388

74

* 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/.