The Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) issued a total of 1,153 original drilling permits in July 2018 compared to 1,011 in July 2017. The July 2018 total included 990 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, 23 to re-enter plugged well bores and 140 for re-completions of existing well bores. The breakdown of well types for those permits is 324 oil, 73 gas, 680 oil or gas, 67 injection, zero service and nine other permits.
In July 2018, Commission staff processed 753 oil, 157 gas, 29 injection and one other completions compared to 437 oil, 50 gas, 27 injection and two other completions in July 2017. Total well completions processed for 2018 year to date are 6,514; up from 4,388 recorded in for the same time period in 2017.
According to Baker Hughes Inc., the Texas rig count as of August 3 was 524, representing about 50 percent of all active rigs in the United States.
For additional drilling permit and completion statistics, visit the Commission’s website at www.rrc.texas.gov/oil-gas/research-and-statistics/well-information/monthly-drilling-completion-and-plugging-summaries/.
TABLE 1– JULY 2018 TEXAS OIL AND GAS DRILLING PERMITSAND COMPLETIONS BY RAILROAD COMMISSION OF TEXAS DISTRICT
DISTRICT | PERMITS TO DRILL OIL/GAS HOLES | OIL COMPLETIONS | GAS COMPLETIONS
(1) SAN ANTONIO AREA | 108 | 129 | 41
(2) REFUGIO AREA | 106 | 113 | 17 |
(3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS | 55 | 15 | 12
(4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS | 14 | 7 | 16
(5) EAST CENTRAL TX | 6 | 1 | 4
(6) EAST TEXAS | 30 | 5 | 31
(7B) WEST CENTRAL TX | 32 | 10 | 0
(7C) SAN ANGELO AREA | 87 | 50 | 0
(8) MIDLAND | 577 | 369 | 20
(8A) LUBBOCK AREA | 62 | 10 | 0
(9) NORTH TEXAS | 54 | 40 | 9
(10) PANHANDLE | 22 | 4 | 7
TOTAL: 1,153 | 753 | 157
A district map is available on the Railroad Commission of Texas website at www.rrc.texas.gov/media/21430/districts_color_8x11.pdf
