The Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) issued a total of 683 original 

drilling permits in April 2016 compared to 848 in April 2015. The April total included 

473 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, 12 to re-enter plugged well bores and 198 

for re-completions of existing well bores. The breakdown of well types for those permits 

issued April 2016 included 209 oil, 36 gas, 403 oil or gas, 25 injection, zero service 

and 10 other permits.

 

In April 2016, Commission staff processed 873 oil, 120 gas, 49 injection and five other 

completions compared to 1,867 oil, 314 gas, 125 injection and one other completions in 

April 2015. Total well completions for 2016 year to date are 4,499 down from 8,253 

recorded during the same period in 2015. 

 

According to Baker Hughes Inc., the Texas rig count as of May 6 was 188, representing 

about 45 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/  

under "Monthly Drilling, completion and Plugging Summaries".

 

TABLE 1 – APRIL 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        77             93                   15

(2) REFUGIO AREA        75            150                   15

(3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS        21             42                   19

(4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS        18              3                   11

(5) EAST CENTRAL TX        5              3                    1

(6) EAST TEXAS                17             12                   21

(7B) WEST CENTRAL TX        29             24                    2

(7C) SAN ANGELO AREA        35             55                    8

(8) MIDLAND               269            402                    9

(8A) LUBBOCK AREA      101             31                    0

(9) NORTH TEXAS                25             37                    7

(10) PANHANDLE                11             21                   12

 

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

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