Texas Drilling Permits and Completions Statistics for September 2019

October 10, 2019

AUSTIN ––The Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) issued a total of 796 original drilling permits in September 2019 compared 974 in September 2018. The September 2019 total included 733 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, 11 to re-enter plugged well bores and 52 for re-completions of existing well bores. The breakdown of well types for those permits is 197 oil, 56 gas, 474 oil or gas, 59 injection, zero service and 10 other permits.

 

In September 2019, Commission staff processed 583 oil, 137 gas, 25 injection and two other completions compared to 553 oil, 129 gas, 60 injection and two other completions in September 2018. Total well completions processed for 2019 year to date are 7,074; down from 8,041 recorded during the same time period in 2018.

 

According to Baker Hughes Inc., the Texas rig count as of Oct. 4 was 414, 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 – SEPTEMBER 2019 TEXAS OIL AND GAS DRILLING PERMITS AND COMPLETIONS BY RAILROAD COMMISSION OF TEXAS DISTRICT*

 

DISTRICT

PERMITS TO DRILL OIL/GAS HOLES

NEW OIL COMPLETIONS

NEW GAS COMPLETIONS

(1) SAN ANTONIO AREA

115

11

22

(2) REFUGIO AREA

56

9

10

(3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS

42

7

19

(4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS

15

2

13

(5) EAST CENTRAL TX

3

1

2

(6) EAST TEXAS

32

14

9

(7B) WEST CENTRAL TX

20

7

1

(7C) SAN ANGELO AREA

50

27

1

(8) MIDLAND

362

456

53

(8A) LUBBOCK AREA

42

15

1

(9) NORTH TEXAS

40

30

6

(10) PANHANDLE

19

4

0

TOTAL

796

583

137

 

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