Texas Drilling Permits and Completions Statistics for August 2016

September 09, 2016

AUSTIN – The Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) issued a total of 660 original drilling permits in August 2016 compared to 864 in August 2015. The August total included 512 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, eight to re-enter plugged well bores and 140 for re-completions of existing well bores. The breakdown of well types for those permits issued August 2016 included 203 oil, 24 gas, 392 oil or gas, 26 injection, zero service and 15 other permits.

In August 2016, Commission staff processed 545 oil, 223 gas, 46 injection and eight other completions compared to 1,113 oil, 172 gas, 36 injection and 11 other completions in August 2015. Total well completions for 2016 year to date are 8,107 down from 14,665 recorded during the same period in 2015.

According to Baker Hughes Inc., the Texas rig count as of September 9 was 245, representing about 48 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 – AUGUST 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

70

81

42

(2) REFUGIO AREA

19

42

62

(3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS

29

49

44

(4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS

22

1

6

(5) EAST CENTRAL TX

11

15

1

(6) EAST TEXAS

29

5

8

(7B) WEST CENTRAL TX

30

13

1

(7C) SAN ANGELO AREA

47

30

0

(8) MIDLAND

275

226

18

(8A) LUBBOCK AREA

74

55

0

(9) NORTH TEXAS

22

21

9

(10) PANHANDLE

32

7

32

TOTAL

660

545

223

*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/.