AUSTIN November 13, 2018 - The Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) issued a total of 1,149 original drilling permits in October 2018 compared to 997 in October 2017. The October 2018 total included 1,051 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, 11 to re-enter plugged well bores and 87 for re-completions of existing well bores. The breakdown of well types for those permits is 271 oil, 64 gas, 729 oil or gas, 77 injection, two service and six other permits.

In October 2018, Commission staff processed 987 oil, 170 gas, 49 injection and seven other completions compared to 257 oil, 91 gas, 39 injection and four other completions in October 2017. Total well completions processed for 2018 year to date are 9,254; up from 5,799 recorded during the same time period in 2017.

According to Baker Hughes Inc., the Texas rig count as of November 2 was 533, representing about 50 percent of all active rigs in the United States.