Texas drilling permits and completions statistics for March 2019

The Railroad Commission of Texas issued a total of 1,137 original drilling permits in March 2019 compared to 1,220 in March 2018. The March 2019 total included 1,005 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, 14 to reenter plugged wellbores and 118 for re-completions of existing wellbores. The breakdown of well types for those permits is 315 oil, 69 gas, 688 oil or gas, 56 injection, one service and eight other permits. 

In March 2019, the commission staff processed 493 oil, 127 gas, 43 injection and two other completions compared to 656 oil, 173 gas, 35 injection and three other completions in March 2018. Total well completions processed for 2019 year to date are 2,469; down from 2,712 recorded during the same time period in 2018. 

According to Baker Hughes Inc., the Texas rig count as of 5 April was 499, representing about 49% of all active rigs in the US.

For additional drilling permit and completion statistics, visit the Commission’s website here. 

Table 1 – March 2019 Texas oil and gas drilling permits and completions by Railroad Commission of Texas district*