Texas Drilling Permit and Completion Statistics for February 2023

March 08, 2023

AUSTIN – The Railroad Commission of Texas issued a total of 700 original drilling permits in February 2023. The total includes 620 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, 5 to re-enter plugged wellbores and 71 for re-completions of existing wellbores.

The breakdown of well types for total original drilling permits in February 2023 is: 151 oil, 44 gas, 472 oil and gas, 28 injection, two service, and three other permits.

In February 2023, Commission staff processed 567 oil, 150 gas and 246 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 – JANUARY 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

72

59

25

(2) REFUGIO AREA

65

5

1

(3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS

21

12

2

(4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS

7

4

2

(5) EAST CENTRAL TX

0

3

1

(6) EAST TEXAS

23

3

33

(7B) WEST CENTRAL TX

8

8

0

(7C) SAN ANGELO AREA

46

56

0

(8) MIDLAND

332

313

46

(8A) LUBBOCK AREA

16

8

0

(9) NORTH TEXAS

28

10

18

(10) PANHANDLE

2

2

3

TOTAL

620

483

131

*A district map is available on the Railroad Commission of Texas website at https://rrc.texas.gov/media/3bkhbut0/districts_color_8x11.pdf.


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/.