The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) issued 816 original drilling permits in October 2026, the agency said in a Nov. 5 news release detailing its monthly permit and completion statistics.
The figures offer a monthly snapshot of drilling activity across the state’s oil and gas fields. The commission said detailed data on drilling permits and well completions for each month is available on its website.
According to the release, the October total includes 742 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, 12 to re-enter plugged wellbores, 60 for recompletion and two reclassifications. By well type, the agency said the original permits break down as 143 oil, 71 gas, 532 oil and gas, 39 injection, nine service and 22 other permits.
Commission staff also processed 869 oil, 359 gas and 68 injection completions during the month, the release said.
A district-by-district table in the release shows where new-well activity was concentrated. The Midland district (District 8) accounted for 345 of the permits to drill new oil or gas holes, along with 197 new oil completions and 48 new gas completions. The San Angelo area (District 7C) followed with 125 permits and 117 new oil completions, according to the table.
The San Antonio area (District 1) recorded 67 permits to drill new holes, the Refugio area (District 2) recorded 55, and East Texas (District 6) recorded 54, including 53 new gas completions. Statewide, the table lists 742 permits to drill new oil and gas holes, 448 new oil completions and 178 new gas completions.
The RRC said its mission is to serve Texas through stewardship of natural resources and the environment, concern for personal and community safety, and support of enhanced development and economic vitality. Established in 1891, the commission describes itself as the oldest regulatory agency in the state, with jurisdiction over oil and gas, alternative fuels safety, natural gas utilities, surface mining and intrastate pipelines.