Texas Drilling Permits and Completions Statistics for March 2017

AUSTIN — The Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) issued a total of 1,310 original drilling permits in March 2017 compared to 511 in March 2016. The March total included 1,144 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, 11 to re-enter plugged well bores and 155 for re-completions of existing well bores. The breakdown of well types for those permits issued March 2017 included 284 oil, 56 gas, 893 oil or gas, 51 injection, one service and 25 other permits.

In March 2017, Commission staff processed 586 oil, 77 gas, 49 injection and zero other completions compared to 947 oil, 194 gas, 33 injection and eight other completions in March 2016. Total well completions for 2017 year to date are 1,925; down from 3,452 recorded during the same period in 2016.

According to Baker Hughes Inc., the Texas rig count as of April 7 was 418, representing about 50 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 – MARCH 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 146 77 11
(2) REFUGIO AREA 140 78 5
(3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS 45 13 6
(4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS 24 4 10
(5) EAST CENTRAL TX 11 6 2
(6) EAST TEXAS 48 7 6
(7B) WEST CENTRAL TX 48 15 1
(7C) SAN ANGELO AREA 120 32 0
(8) MIDLAND 585 264 19
(8A) LUBBOCK AREA 67 52 1
(9) NORTH TEXAS 53 25 3
(10) PANHANDLE 23 13 13
TOTAL 1,310 533 77

 

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

http://www.rrc.texas.gov/media/21430/districts_color_8x11.pdf.