AUSTIN March 11, 2019 - The Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) issued a total of 961 original drilling permits in February 2019 compared 1,097 in February 2018. The February 2019 total included 887 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, seven to re-enter plugged well bores and 67 for re-completions of existing well bores. The breakdown of well types for those permits is 246 oil, 54 gas, 597 oil or gas, 60 injection, zero service and four other permits.

In February 2019, Commission staff processed 584 oil, 175 gas, 21 injection and four other completions compared to 672 oil, 149 gas, 56 injection and five other completions in February 2018. Total well completions processed for 2019 year to date are 1,804; down from 1,845 recorded during the same time period in 2018.

According to Baker Hughes Inc., the Texas rig count as of March 8 was 502, representing about 49 percent of all active rigs in the United States.