Texas Drilling Permits and Completions Statistics for October 2018

November 08, 2018

AUSTIN –– The Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) issued a total of 1,149 original drilling permits in October 2018 compared to 997 in October 2017. The October 2018 total included 1,051 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, 11 to re-enter plugged well bores and 87 for re-completions of existing well bores. The breakdown of well types for those permits is 271 oil, 64 gas, 729 oil or gas, 77 injection, two service and six other permits.

In October 2018, Commission staff processed 987 oil, 170 gas, 49 injection and seven other completions compared to 257 oil, 91 gas, 39 injection and four other completions in October 2017. Total well completions processed for 2018 year to date are 9,254; up from 5,799 recorded during the same time period in 2017.

According to Baker Hughes Inc., the Texas rig count as of November 2 was 533, 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 completion summaries web page. 

TABLE 1 – OCTOBER 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

162

123

33

(2) REFUGIO AREA

106

113

17

(3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS

45

36

3

(4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS

13

3

11

(5) EAST CENTRAL TX

2

0

1

(6) EAST TEXAS

38

8

14

(7B) WEST CENTRAL TX

25

22

2

(7C) SAN ANGELO AREA

96

109

1

(8) MIDLAND

545

464

71

(8A) LUBBOCK AREA

46

67

0

(9) NORTH TEXAS

53

23

6

(10) PANHANDLE

18

19

11

TOTAL

1,149

987

170

*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/.