The Railroad Commission of Texas issued a total of 687 original drilling permits in August 2021 compared to 451 in August 2020. The August 2021 total includes 613 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, 10 to re-enter plugged wellbores, and 58 for re-completions of existing wellbores.
The breakdown of well types for original drilling permits in August 2021 in 149 oil, 53 gas, 452 oil or gas, 21 injections, and 12 other permits.
In August 2021, Commission staff processed 649 oil, 109 gas, and 291 injection completions for new drills, re-entries, and re-completions, compared to 1,007 oil, 211 gas, and 197 injection completions in August 2020.
Total well completions processed for 2021 year-to-date for new drills, re-entries, and re-completions are 6,108 compared to 10,804 recorded during the same period in 2020.
Detailed data on drilling permits and well completions for the month can be found at this link:
TABLE 1 – AUGUST 2021 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 | 77 | 67 | 6 |
| (2) REFUGIO AREA | 44 | 23 | 6 |
| (3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS | 8 | 2 | 4 |
| (4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| (5) EAST CENTRAL TX | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| (6) EAST TEXAS | 12 | 1 | 8 |
| (7B) WEST CENTRAL TX | 12 | 2 | 0 |
| (7C) SAN ANGELO AREA | 38 | 58 | 0 |
| (8) MIDLAND | 357 | 372 | 67 |
| (8A) LUBBOCK AREA | 30 | 3 | 0 |
| (9) NORTH TEXAS | 16 | 11 | 0 |
| (10) PANHANDLE | 14 | 1 | 5 |
| TOTAL | 613 | 541 | 96 |
Source: www.rrc.texas.gov
