In Sept. 2016, Commission staff processed 430 oil, 155 gas, 38 injection and seven other completions
AUSTIN –– The Railroad Commission of Texas issued a total of 746 original drilling permits in Sept. 2016 compared to 906 in Sept. 2015.
The Sept. total included 610 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, seven to re-enter plugged well bores and 129 for re-completions of existing well bores.
The breakdown of well types for those permits issued Sept. 2016 included 217 oil, 39 gas, 448 oil or gas, 34 injection, one service and seven other permits.
In Sept. 2016, Commission staff processed 430 oil, 155 gas, 38 injection and seven other completions compared to 1,153 oil, 284 gas, 41 injection and six other completions in Sept. 2015.
Total well completions for 2016 year to date are 8,737 down from 16,149 recorded during the same period in 2015.
According to Baker Hughes Inc., the Texas rig count as of Oct. 7 was 247, representing about 47 per cent of all active rigs in the United States.
TABLE 1 – SEPT. 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 | 73 | 82 | 26 |
| (2) REFUGIO AREA | 51 | 26 | 35 |
| (3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS | 36 | 30 | 26 |
| (4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS | 22 | 5 | 6 |
| (5) EAST CENTRAL TX | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| (6) EAST TEXAS | 28 | 1 | 17 |
| (7B) WEST CENTRAL TX | 24 | 16 | 0 |
| (7C) SAN ANGELO AREA | 41 | 64 | 2 |
| (8) MIDLAND | 323 | 139 | 15 |
| (8A) LUBBOCK AREA | 76 | 34 | 0 |
| (9) NORTH TEXAS | 44 | 23 | 6 |
| (10) PANHANDLE | 20 | 9 | 22 |
| TOTAL | 746 | 430 | 155 |
*A district map is available on the Railroad Commission of Texas website athttp://www.rrc.texas.gov/media/21430/districts_color_8x11.pdf.
