Texas Drilling Permits and Completions Statistics for May 2018

June 08, 2018

AUSTIN –– The Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) issued a total of 1,243 original drilling permits in May 2018 compared to 1,021 in May 2017. The May total included 1,118 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, 13 to re-enter plugged well bores and 112 for re-completions of existing well bores. The breakdown of well types for those permits issued May 2018 included 278 oil, 77 gas, 801 oil or gas, 72 injection, zero service and 15 other permits.

In May 2018, Commission staff processed 739 oil, 134 gas, 57 injection and six other completions compared to 593 oil, 115 gas, 60 injection and zero other completions in May 2017. Total well completions processed for 2018 year to date are 4,450; up from 3,223 recorded in 2017.

According to Baker Hughes Inc., the Texas rig count as of June 8 was 538, representing about 51 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 – MAY 2018 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

126

149

51

(2) REFUGIO AREA

134

31

7

(3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS

59

22

10

(4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS

25

2

5

(5) EAST CENTRAL TX

9

10

0

(6) EAST TEXAS

31

15

10

(7B) WEST CENTRAL TX

42

11

3

(7C) SAN ANGELO AREA

87

49

0

(8) MIDLAND

597

404

20

(8A) LUBBOCK AREA

76

16

0

(9) NORTH TEXAS

40

26

22

(10) PANHANDLE

17

4

6

TOTAL

1,243

739

134

*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/.