Holiday Office Closure

In observance of the Christmas holidays, Railroad Commission of Texas offices will be closed December 23-27. The offices will re-open at 8 a.m. on Monday, December 30 for regular business. Expedited Drilling Permits will be processed within standard processing times. If assistance is needed, please email Drillingpermits-info@rrc.texas.gov.
RRC maintains a 24-hour emergency phone line to report any leaks or spills. That number is 844-773-0305

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Commissioner Ryan Sitton Talks Texas’ Role in U.S. Energy Dominance

November 29, 2017

AUSTIN  — Texas Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton spoke today to regulators and members of the energy industry about the enormous energy opportunities Texas possesses at the Oil & Gas Environmental Conference in Houston. With a predictable regulatory environment, record production and increasing exports, Sitton said Texas is poised to fundamentally change how the world views energy. 

“In early November, U.S. crude oil exports hit an all-time high at 2.13 million barrels per day, departing from ports like Port of Corpus Christi, Port of Houston and Port of Beaumont, all of which had been damaged, restricted or shut down for a time due to Hurricane Harvey,” Sitton said.

“Worldwide demand for Texas energy will continue to grow as OPEC restrains its production and Texas must be ready to capitalize on the opportunity by enhancing our energy transportation infrastructure and using Texas energy to enhance our economic and national security. No one in the world does a better job of responsibly producing and transporting energy than Texans do.”

Ryan Sitton


Ryan Sitton was elected to the Railroad Commission in 2014 and is the first engineer to serve on the Commission in 50 years. Ryan is one of the world’s leading energy experts and founded PinnacleART, an engineering and technology company focused on reliability and integrity programs for the oil, gas, and petrochemical, mining, pharmaceutical, and wastewater industries. As Railroad Commissioner, Ryan is committed to fostering an environment where energy can be responsibly produced as efficiently and effectively as possible.


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/.