Texas Drilling Permits and Completions Statistics for November 2016

December 08, 2016

AUSTIN –– The Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) issued a total of 673 original drilling permits in November 2016 compared to 687 in November 2015. The November total included 581 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, 10 to re-enter plugged well bores and 82 for re-completions of existing well bores. The breakdown of well types for those permits issued November 2016 included 145 oil, 38 gas, 449 oil or gas, 36 injection, zero service and five other permits.

In November 2016, Commission staff processed 342 oil, 151 gas, 24 injection and one other completions compared to 776 oil, 150 gas, 35 injection and four other completions in November 2015. Total well completions for 2016 year to date are 9,923 down from 18,510 recorded during the same period in 2015.

According to Baker Hughes Inc., the Texas rig count as of December 2 was 286, representing about 48 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 – NOVEMBER 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

63

73

27

(2) REFUGIO AREA

73

32

28

(3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS

21

11

38

(4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS

15

4

11

(5) EAST CENTRAL TX

7

0

1

(6) EAST TEXAS

20

7

8

(7B) WEST CENTRAL TX

28

22

2

(7C) SAN ANGELO AREA

54

21

1

(8) MIDLAND

291

109

12

(8A) LUBBOCK AREA

64

25

1

(9) NORTH TEXAS

31

28

1

(10) PANHANDLE

6

10

21

TOTAL

673

342

151

*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/.