Texas Drilling Permits and Completions Statistics for August 2018

September 11, 2018

AUSTIN –– The Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) issued a total of 1,110 original drilling permits in August 2018 compared to 1,125 in August 2017. The August 2018 total included 967 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, 12 to re-enter plugged well bores and 131 for re-completions of existing well bores. The breakdown of well types for those permits is 262 oil, 83 gas, 689 oil or gas, 57 injection, five service and 14 other permits.

In August 2018, Commission staff processed 601 oil, 123 gas, 56 injection and three other completions compared to 401 oil, 115 gas, 38 injection and three other completions in August 2017. Total well completions processed for 2018 year to date are 7,297; up from 4,945 recorded during the same time period in 2017.

According to Baker Hughes Inc., the Texas rig count as of September 7 was 528, representing about 50 percent of all active rigs in the United States.

For additional drilling permit and completion statistics, visit the Commission’s monthly drilling and completion summaries web page.

TABLE 1 – AUGUST 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

154

62

25

(2) REFUGIO AREA

90

55

23

(3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS

59

18

6

(4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS

28

2

8

(5) EAST CENTRAL TX

10

7

0

(6) EAST TEXAS

53

8

10

(7B) WEST CENTRAL TX

31

10

2

(7C) SAN ANGELO AREA

67

35

0

(8) MIDLAND

478

366

23

(8A) LUBBOCK AREA

58

5

0

(9) NORTH TEXAS

55

30

11

(10) PANHANDLE

27

3

15

TOTAL

1,110

601

123

*A district map is available on the Railroad Commission of Texas website 


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/.