Texas Drilling Permits and Completions Statistics for November 2015

December 08, 2015

AUSTIN – The Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) issued a total of 687 original drilling permits in November 2015 compared to 1,508 in November 2014. The November total included 584 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, eleven to re-enter plugged well bores and 92 for re-completions of existing well bores. The breakdown of well types for those permits issued November 2015 included 173 oil, 47 gas, 441 oil or gas, 15 injection, zero service and 11 other permits.

In November 2015, Commission staff processed 776 oil, 150 gas, 35 injection and four other completions compared to 1,570 oil, 380 gas, 36 injection and five other completions in November 2014. Total well completions for 2015 year to date are 18,510 down from 27,595 recorded during the same period in 2014.

According to Baker Hughes Inc., the Texas rig count as of December 4 was 333, representing about 45 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 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

72

164

25

(2) REFUGIO AREA

88

67

30

(3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS

31

37

19

(4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS

16

2

3

(5) EAST CENTRAL TX

12

4

2

(6) EAST TEXAS

22

6

7

(7B) WEST CENTRAL TX

40

17

3

(7C) SAN ANGELO AREA

37

61

0

(8) MIDLAND

262

318

8

(8A) LUBBOCK AREA

38

37

0

(9) NORTH TEXAS

58

40

12

(10) PANHANDLE

11

23

41

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