Texas Drilling Permit and Completion Statistics for November 2023

December 05, 2023

AUSTIN – The Railroad Commission of Texas issued a total of 639 original drilling permits in November 2023. The total includes 588 to drill new oil or gas wells, 5 to re-enter plugged wellbores and 37 for re-completions of existing wellbores.

The breakdown of well types for total original drilling permits in November 2023 is:  138 oil, 33 gas, 449 oil and gas, 8 injection, one service, and 10 other permits.

In November 2023, Commission staff processed 627 oil, 196 gas and 143 injection completions for new drills, re-entries and re-completions.

Detailed data on drilling permits and well completions for the month can be found at this link:

https://www.rrc.texas.gov/oil-and-gas/research-and-statistics/drilling-information/monthly-drilling-completion-and-plugging-summaries/

TABLE 1 – October 2023 TEXAS OIL AND GAS NEW DRILLING PERMITS AND COMPLETIONS BY RAILROAD COMMISSION OF TEXAS DISTRICT*

DISTRICT

PERMITS TO DRILL NEW OIL/GAS HOLES

NEW OIL COMPLETIONS

NEW GAS COMPLETIONS

(1) SAN ANTONIO AREA

62

57

37

(2) REFUGIO AREA

33

 31

29

(3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS

20

11

4

(4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS

9

1

6

(5) EAST CENTRAL TX

2

2

1

(6) EAST TEXAS

28

3

35

(7B) WEST CENTRAL TX

17

9

1

(7C) SAN ANGELO AREA

65

79

1

(8) MIDLAND

290

315

65

(8A) LUBBOCK AREA

32

11

0

(9) NORTH TEXAS

25

17

6

(10) PANHANDLE

5

1

1

TOTAL

588

537

186

 

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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 almost 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/.