AUSTIN December 11, 2018 - The Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) issued a total of 933 original drilling permits in November 2018 compared to 1,187 in November 2017. The November 2018 total included 870 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, one to re-enter plugged well bores and 62 for re-completions of existing well bores. The breakdown of well types for those permits is 212 oil, 55 gas, 595 oil or gas, 60 injection, two service and nine other permits.

In November 2018, Commission staff processed 794 oil, 151 gas, 36 injection and one other completions compared to 388 oil, 74 gas, 29 injection and one other completions in November 2017. Total well completions processed for 2018 year to date are 10,236; up from 6,291 recorded during the same time period in 2017.

According to Baker Hughes Inc., the Texas rig count as of December 7 was 529, representing about 49 percent of all active rigs in the United States.