Texas Drilling Permit and Completion Statistics for May 2023

June 02, 2023

AUSTIN – The Railroad Commission of Texas issued a total of 805 original drilling permits in May 2023. The total includes 702 to drill new oil or gas wells, 11 to re-enter plugged wellbores and 85 for re-completions of existing wellbores.

The breakdown of well types for total original drilling permits in May 2023 is: 172 oil, 59 gas, 535 oil and gas, 27 injection, and 12 other permits.

In May 2023, Commission staff processed 638 oil, 258 gas and 379 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 – May 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

94

72

47

(2) REFUGIO AREA

54

25

26

(3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS

9

8

7

(4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS

16

6

18

(5) EAST CENTRAL TX

3

1

1

(6) EAST TEXAS

21

6

53

(7B) WEST CENTRAL TX

11

13

1

(7C) SAN ANGELO AREA

65

126

0

(8) MIDLAND

362

239

37

(8A) LUBBOCK AREA

25

18

0

(9) NORTH TEXAS

34

14

30

(10) PANHANDLE

8

7

13

TOTAL

702

535

233

*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/.