AUSTIN February 12, 2018 - The Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) issued a total of 1,196 original drilling permits in January 2019 compared to 1,166 in January 2018. The January 2019 total included 1,102 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, seven to re-enter plugged well bores and 87 for re-completions of existing well bores. The breakdown of well types for those permits is 303 oil, 53 gas, 732 oil or gas, 88 injection, three service and 17 other permits.

In January 2019, Commission staff processed 742 oil, 245 gas, 29 injection and four other completions compared to 739 oil, 179 gas, 44 injection and one other completions in January 2018. Total well completions processed for 2019 year to date are 1,020; up from 963 recorded during the same time period in 2018.

According to Baker Hughes Inc., the Texas rig count as of February 8 was 511, representing about 49 percent of all active rigs in the United States.