Texas Drilling Permits and Completions Statistics for May 2016

June 08, 2016

AUSTIN –– The Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) issued a total of 606 original drilling permits in May 2016 compared to 916 in May 2015. The May total included 488 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, 13 to re-enter plugged well bores and 105 for re-completions of existing well bores. The breakdown of well types for those permits issued May 2016 included 179 oil, 28 gas, 354 oil or gas, 17 injection, zero service and 28 other permits.

In May 2016, Commission staff processed 760 oil, 199 gas, 60 injection and 11 other completions compared to 1,299 oil, 201 gas, 72 injection and seven other completions in May 2015. Total well completions for 2016 year to date are 5,529 down from 9,832 recorded during the same period in 2015.

According to Baker Hughes Inc., the Texas rig count as of June 3 was 176, representing about 43 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 – MAY 2016 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

50

54

55

(2) REFUGIO AREA

58

88

33

(3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS

22

72

25

(4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS

16

0

11

(5) EAST CENTRAL TX

4

10

0

(6) EAST TEXAS

28

21

24

(7B) WEST CENTRAL TX

35

32

2

(7C) SAN ANGELO AREA

52

54

4

(8) MIDLAND

221

304

3

(8A) LUBBOCK AREA

61

52

0

(9) NORTH TEXAS

45

64

26

(10) PANHANDLE

14

9

16

*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/.