AUSTIN, April 9, 2018 – The Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) issued a total of 1,220 original drilling permits in March 2018 compared to 1,310 in March 2017. The March total included 1,002 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, 14 to re-enter plugged well bores and 204 for re-completions of existing well bores. The breakdown of well types for those permits issued March 2018 included 385 oil, 77 gas, 690 oil or gas, 82 injection, two service and 11 other permits.

In March 2018, Commission staff processed 656 oil, 173 gas, 35 injection and three other completions compared to 586 oil, 77 gas, 49 injection and zero other completions in March 2017. Total well completions processed for 2018 year to date are 2,712; up from 1,925 recorded in 2017.

According to Baker Hughes Inc., the Texas rig count as of April 6 was 498, representing about 49 percent of all active rigs in the United States.