Texas Drilling Permits and Completions Statistics for January 2017

February 10, 2017

AUSTIN –– The Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) issued a total of 956 original drilling permits in January 2017 compared to 510 in January 2016. The January total included 865 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, 12 to re-enter plugged well bores and 79 for re-completions of existing well bores. The breakdown of well types for those permits issued January 2017 included 259 oil, 67 gas, 607 oil or gas, 18 injection, one service and four other permits.

In January 2017, Commission staff processed 418 oil, 84 gas, 31 injection and three other completions compared to 951 oil, 197 gas, 52 injection and four other completions in January 2016. Total well completions for 2017 year to date are 536; down from 1,204 recorded during the same period in 2016.

According to Baker Hughes Inc., the Texas rig count as of February 10 was 362, 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
 – JANUARY 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

147

73

10

(2) REFUGIO AREA

107

34

23

(3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS

35

27

29

(4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS

34

4

3

(5) EAST CENTRAL TX

21

7

1

(6) EAST TEXAS

40

8

6

(7B) WEST CENTRAL TX

36

8

1

(7C) SAN ANGELO AREA

70

47

0

(8) MIDLAND

350

167

5

(8A) LUBBOCK AREA

67

30

0

(9) NORTH TEXAS

24

8

4

(10) PANHANDLE

25

5

2

TOTAL

956

418

84

*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/.