Good Friday

 In observance of Good Friday, the Railroad Commission offices will be closed Friday, March 29, 2024. Staff will be on hand to respond to emergencies. Call toll-free at 844-773-0305.

 

Texas Drilling Permits and Completions Statistics for December 2018

January 09, 2019

AUSTIN –– The Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) issued a total of 811 original drilling permits in December 2018 compared to 885 in December 2017. The December 2018 total included 750 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, 10 to re-enter plugged well bores and 51 for re-completions of existing well bores. The breakdown of well types for those permits is 180 oil, 43 gas, 537 oil or gas, 46 injection, one service and four other permits.

In December 2018, Commission staff processed 564 oil, 156 gas, 27 injection and three other completions compared to 514 oil, 80 gas, 26 injection and three other completions in December 2017. Total well completions processed for 2018 are 10,986; up from 6,914 recorded in 2017.

According to Baker Hughes Inc., the Texas rig count as of January 4 was 534, representing about 50 percent of all active rigs in the United States.

 
TABLE 1 – DECEMBER 2018 TEXAS OIL AND GAS DRILLING PERMITS AND COMPLETIONS BY RAILROAD COMMISSION OF TEXAS DISTRICT*

DISTRICT

PERMITS TO DRILL OIL/GAS HOLES

NEW OIL COMPLETIONS

NEW GAS COMPLETIONS

(1) SAN ANTONIO AREA

134

118

28

(2) REFUGIO AREA

78

39

14

(3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS

26

17

10

(4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS

11

6

8

(5) EAST CENTRAL TX

10

4

1

(6) EAST TEXAS

20

3

19

(7B) WEST CENTRAL TX

23

8

1

(7C) SAN ANGELO AREA

67

25

0

(8) MIDLAND

374

281

57

(8A) LUBBOCK AREA

34

37

0

(9) NORTH TEXAS

26

15

10

(10) PANHANDLE

8

11

8

TOTAL

811

564

156

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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 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/.