Texas Drilling Permits and Completions Statistics for December 2016
January 10, 2017AUSTIN –– The Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) issued a total of 1,009 original drilling permits in December 2016 compared to 727 in December 2015. The December total included 909 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, 17 to re-enter plugged well bores and 83 for re-completions of existing well bores. The breakdown of well types for those permits issued December 2016 included 267 oil, 57 gas, 612 oil or gas, 62 injection, zero service and 11 other permits.
In December 2016, Commission staff processed 430 oil, 93 gas, 20 injection and two other completions compared to 788 oil, 151 gas, 53 injection and one other completions in December 2015. Total well completions for 2016 are 10,468; down from 19,503 recorded in 2015.
According to Baker Hughes Inc., the Texas rig count as of January 6 was 327, 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 – DECEMBER 2016 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 |
143 |
93 |
13 |
|
(2) REFUGIO AREA |
121 |
33 |
19 |
|
(3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS |
35 |
11 |
22 |
|
(4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS |
23 |
3 |
7 |
|
(5) EAST CENTRAL TX |
10 |
1 |
0 |
|
(6) EAST TEXAS |
38 |
12 |
5 |
|
(7B) WEST CENTRAL TX |
37 |
11 |
2 |
|
(7C) SAN ANGELO AREA |
89 |
34 |
0 |
|
(8) MIDLAND |
374 |
159 |
10 |
|
(8A) LUBBOCK AREA |
88 |
39 |
0 |
|
(9) NORTH TEXAS |
35 |
26 |
2 |
|
(10) PANHANDLE |
16 |
8 |
13 |
|
TOTAL |
1,009 |
430 |
93 |
*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 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/.