Texas Drilling Permits and Completions Statistics for July 2019

August 16, 2019

AUSTIN – The Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) issued a total of 912 original drilling permits in July 2019 compared 1,153 in July 2018. The July 2019 total included 836 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, eight to re-enter plugged well bores and 68 for re-completions of existing well bores. The breakdown of well types for those permits is 212 oil, 58 gas, 537 oil or gas, 93 injection, three service and nine other permits. 

In July 2019, Commission staff processed 499 oil, 156 gas, 42 injection and two other completions compared to 753 oil, 157 gas, 29 injection and one other completion in July 2018. Total well completions processed for 2019 year to date are 5,749; down from 6,514 recorded during the same time period in 2018.

According to Baker Hughes Inc., the Texas rig count as of Aug. 9 was 454, representing about 50 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 – JULY 2019 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

78

24

2

(2) REFUGIO AREA

74

11

4

(3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS

32

11

20

(4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS

16

2

11

(5) EAST CENTRAL TX

8

0

2

(6) EAST TEXAS

39

7

18

(7B) WEST CENTRAL TX

31

13

1

(7C) SAN ANGELO AREA

45

14

0

(8) MIDLAND

487

381

78

(8A) LUBBOCK AREA

45

13

0

(9) NORTH TEXAS

40

22

8

(10) PANHANDLE

17

1

12

TOTAL

912

499

156

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


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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/.