Texas Drilling Permits and Completions Statistics for September 2016

October 10, 2016

AUSTIN –– The Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) issued a total of 746 original drilling permits in September 2016 compared to 906 in September 2015. The September total included 610 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, seven to re-enter plugged well bores and 129 for re-completions of existing well bores. The breakdown of well types for those permits issued September 2016 included 217 oil, 39 gas, 448 oil or gas, 34 injection, one service and seven other permits.

In September 2016, Commission staff processed 430 oil, 155 gas, 38 injection and seven other completions compared to 1,153 oil, 284 gas, 41 injection and six other completions in September 2015. Total well completions for 2016 year to date are 8,737 down from 16,149 recorded during the same period in 2015.

According to Baker Hughes Inc., the Texas rig count as of October 7 was 247, representing about 47 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 – SEPTEMBER 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

73

82

26

(2) REFUGIO AREA

51

26

35

(3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS

36

30

26

(4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS

22

5

6

(5) EAST CENTRAL TX

8

1

0

(6) EAST TEXAS

28

1

17

(7B) WEST CENTRAL TX

24

16

0

(7C) SAN ANGELO AREA

41

64

2

(8) MIDLAND

323

139

15

(8A) LUBBOCK AREA

76

34

0

(9) NORTH TEXAS

44

23

6

(10) PANHANDLE

20

9

22

TOTAL

746

430

155

*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/.