Texas Drilling Permits and Completions Statistics for November 2018

December 07, 2018

AUSTIN –– The Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) issued a total of 933 original drilling permits in November 2018 compared to 1,187 in November 2017. The November 2018 total included 870 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, one to re-enter plugged well bores and 62 for re-completions of existing well bores. The breakdown of well types for those permits is 212 oil, 55 gas, 595 oil or gas, 60 injection, two service and nine other permits.

In November 2018, Commission staff processed 794 oil, 151 gas, 36 injection and one other completions compared to 388 oil, 74 gas, 29 injection and one other completions in November 2017. Total well completions processed for 2018 year to date are 10,236; up from 6,291 recorded during the same time period in 2017.

According to Baker Hughes Inc., the Texas rig count as of December 7 was 529, representing about 49 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 – NOVEMBER 2018 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

158

87

21

(2) REFUGIO AREA

59

106

14

(3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS

38

28

6

(4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS

14

2

3

(5) EAST CENTRAL TX

5

7

1

(6) EAST TEXAS

41

9

15

(7B) WEST CENTRAL TX

27

25

1

(7C) SAN ANGELO AREA

64

88

0

(8) MIDLAND

437

374

73

(8A) LUBBOCK AREA

34

24

0

(9) NORTH TEXAS

35

34

4

(10) PANHANDLE

21

10

13

TOTAL

933

794

151

*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/.