Texas Drilling Permits and Completions Statistics for July 2017
AUSTIN –– The Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) issued a total of 1,011 original drilling permits in July 2017 compared to 631 in July 2016. The July total included 893 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, 10 to re-enter plugged well bores and 108 for re-completions of existing well bores. The breakdown of well types for those permits issued July 2017 included 273 oil, 77 gas, 601 oil or gas, 53 injection, zero service and seven other permits.
In July 2017, Commission staff processed 437 oil, 50 gas, 27 injection and two other completions compared to 568 oil, 243 gas, 44 injection and one other completions in July 2016. Total well completions processed for 2017 year to date are 4,388; down from 7,285 recorded during the same period in 2016.
According to Baker Hughes Inc., the Texas rig count as of August 4 was 466, representing about 49 percent of all active rigs in the United States.
For additional drilling permit and completion statistics, visit the Commission’s website at http://www.rrc.texas.gov/oil-gas/research-and-statistics/well-information/monthly-drilling-completion-and-plugging-summaries/.
TABLE 1 – JULY 2017 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 | 120 | 54 | 12 |
(2) REFUGIO AREA | 61 | 19 | 7 |
(3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS | 35 | 12 | 11 |
(4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS | 14 | 3 | 5 |
(5) EAST CENTRAL TX | 3 | 4 | 4 |
(6) EAST TEXAS | 49 | 3 | 3 |
(7B) WEST CENTRAL TX | 41 | 16 | 1 |
(7C) SAN ANGELO AREA | 82 | 58 | 0 |
(8) MIDLAND | 482 | 225 | 4 |
(8A) LUBBOCK AREA | 47 | 28 | 0 |
(9) NORTH TEXAS | 42 | 4 | 0 |
(10) PANHANDLE | 35 | 11 | 3 |
TOTAL | 1,011 | 437 | 50 |
*A district map is available on the Railroad Commission of Texas website at http://www.rrc.texas.gov/media/21430/districts_color_8x11.pdf.