AUSTIN October 9, 2018 - The Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) issued a total of 974 original drilling permits in September 2018 compared to 903 in September 2017. The September 2018 total included 857 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, 11 to re-enter plugged well bores and 106 for re-completions of existing well bores. The breakdown of well types for those permits is 271 oil, 55 gas, 576 oil or gas, 62 injection, zero service and 10 other permits.

In September 2018, Commission staff processed 553 oil, 129 gas, 60 injection and two other completions compared to 318 oil, 101 gas, 40 injection and four other completions in September 2017. Total well completions processed for 2018 year to date are 8,041; up from 5,408 recorded during the same time period in 2017.

According to Baker Hughes Inc., the Texas rig count as of October 5 was 524, representing about 51 percent of all active rigs in the United States.