Texas Drilling Permits and Completions Statistics for March 2018
April 06, 2018AUSTIN – The Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) issued a total of 1,220 original drilling permits in March 2018 compared to 1,310 in March 2017. The March total included 1,002 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, 14 to re-enter plugged well bores and 204 for re-completions of existing well bores. The breakdown of well types for those permits issued March 2018 included 385 oil, 77 gas, 690 oil or gas, 82 injection, two service and 11 other permits.
In March 2018, Commission staff processed 656 oil, 173 gas, 35 injection and three other completions compared to 586 oil, 77 gas, 49 injection and zero other completions in March 2017. Total well completions processed for 2018 year to date are 2,712; up from 1,925 recorded in 2017.
According to Baker Hughes Inc., the Texas rig count as of April 6 was 498, 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 – MARCH 2018 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 |
116 |
51 |
10 |
(2) REFUGIO AREA |
86 |
67 |
21 |
(3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS |
54 |
37 |
17 |
(4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS |
23 |
2 |
11 |
(5) EAST CENTRAL TX |
12 |
7 |
4 |
(6) EAST TEXAS |
41 |
14 |
35 |
(7B) WEST CENTRAL TX |
49 |
7 |
2 |
(7C) SAN ANGELO AREA |
74 |
59 |
2 |
(8) MIDLAND |
618 |
363 |
53 |
(8A) LUBBOCK AREA |
79 |
11 |
0 |
(9) NORTH TEXAS |
44 |
27 |
10 |
(10) PANHANDLE |
24 |
11 |
8 |
TOTAL |
1,220 |
656 |
173 |
* 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/.