The Railroad Commission of Texas issued a total of 836 original drilling permits in February 2022 compared to 606 in February 2021. The February 2022 total includes 700 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, eight to re-enter plugged wellbores, and 119 for re-completions of existing wellbores.
The breakdown of well types for original drilling permits in February 2022 is 181 oil, 81 gas, 518 oil or gas, 46 injection, and 10 other permits.
In February 2022, Commission staff processed 580 oil, 115 gas and 124 injection completions for new drills, re-entries and re-completions, compared to 482 oil, 107 gas, and 89 injection completions in February 2021.
Total well completions processed for 2022 year-to-date for new drills, re-entries and re-completions are 1,747 compared to 1,663 recorded during the same period in 2021.
Detailed data on drilling permits and well completions for the month can be found at this link:
TABLE 1 – FEBRUARY 2022 TEXAS OIL AND GAS NEW DRILLING PERMITS AND COMPLETIONS BY RAILROAD COMMISSION OF TEXAS DISTRICT*
| DISTRICT | PERMITS TO DRILL NEW OIL/GAS HOLES | NEW OIL COMPLETIONS | NEW GAS COMPLETIONS |
| (1) SAN ANTONIO AREA | 111 | 24 | 24 |
| (2) REFUGIO AREA | 69 | 32 | 19 |
| (3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS | 14 | 14 | 2 |
| (4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS | 5 | 1 | 2 |
| (5) EAST CENTRAL TX | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| (6) EAST TEXAS | 36 | 3 | 12 |
| (7B) WEST CENTRAL TX | 16 | 8 | 1 |
| (7C) SAN ANGELO AREA | 28 | 54 | 0 |
| (8) MIDLAND | 355 | 358 | 34 |
| (8A) LUBBOCK AREA | 23 | 12 | 0 |
| (9) NORTH TEXAS | 29 | 13 | 3 |
| (10) PANHANDLE | 4 | 10 | 4 |
| TOTAL | 700 | 530 | 101 |
About the Railroad Commission:
Our mission is to serve Texas by our stewardship of natural resources and the environment, our concern for personal and community safety, and our support of enhanced development and economic vitality for the benefit of Texans. The Commission has a long and proud history of service to both Texas and to the nation, including almost 100 years regulating the oil and gas industry. The Commission also has jurisdiction over alternative fuels safety, natural gas utilities, surface mining and intrastate pipelines. Established in 1891, the Railroad Commission of Texas is the oldest regulatory agency in the state. To learn more, please visit http://www.rrc.texas.gov/about-us/.
