Holiday Office Closure

In observance of the Christmas holidays, Railroad Commission of Texas offices will be closed December 23-27. The offices will re-open at 8 a.m. on Monday, December 30 for regular business. Expedited Drilling Permits will be processed within standard processing times. If assistance is needed, please email Drillingpermits-info@rrc.texas.gov.
RRC maintains a 24-hour emergency phone line to report any leaks or spills. That number is 844-773-0305

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Texas Drilling Permit and Completion Statistics for December 2023

January 04, 2024

The Railroad Commission of Texas issued a total of 669 original drilling permits in December 2023. The total includes 621 to drill new oil or gas wells, 14 to re-enter plugged wellbores and 33 for re-completions of existing wellbores.

The breakdown of well types for total original drilling permits in December2023 is:  120 oil, 38 gas, 475 oil and gas, 25 injection, two service, and nine other permits.

In December 2023, Commission staff processed 506 oil, 129 gas and 77 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 – December 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

77

93

30

(2) REFUGIO AREA

56

34

13

(3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS

6

16

5

(4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS

12

0

1

(5) EAST CENTRAL TX

1

4

1

(6) EAST TEXAS

26

15

27

(7B) WEST CENTRAL TX

11

9

0

(7C) SAN ANGELO AREA

63

66

0

(8) MIDLAND

305

169

33

(8A) LUBBOCK AREA

30

15

0

(9) NORTH TEXAS

31

12

7

(10) PANHANDLE

3

2

0

TOTAL

621

435

117

 

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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 more than 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/.