Texas Drilling Permits: Week of July 10–July 17, 2026 — RRC Activity Report

Texas Drilling Permits: Week of July 10–July 17, 2026 — RRC Activity Report

The Texas Railroad Commission recorded 135 new drilling permits during the week of July 10–July 17, 2026, reflecting continued momentum across the Permian Basin as WTI crude settled at $80.08 per barrel, up $1.94 from the prior close. The price uptick appears to be supporting steady permitting activity among both large-cap operators and independents working core acreage in West Texas.

Midland County led all counties with 26 new permits, reaffirming its position as the most active drilling target in the state. Reagan County followed closely with 21 permits, underscoring sustained development interest in that part of the Midland Basin. Upton County posted 8 permits, while Webb and Andrews counties each recorded 7 permits, rounding out the top five. The concentration of activity in Midland and Reagan counties continues to signal operator confidence in the economics of this core Permian acreage, even as broader market conditions fluctuate.

On the operator side, Diamondback E&P LLC topped the list with 20 permits filed during the week, followed by DE Central Operating, LLC with 19 permits. Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc. filed 11 permits, while COG Operating LLC and Apache Corporation each secured 6 permits. These five operators accounted for a significant share of total permitting activity, reflecting the ongoing dominance of established Permian players in shaping near-term drilling programs.

Among the week's highest-priority permits, Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc. filed multiple applications in Midland County, including permits #917118, #917123, and #917107, along with permit #917111 in Upton County. Permian Resources Operating, LLC also filed a notable permit, #915114, in Ward County. Spud dates for these permits remain to be determined, but their filing volume suggests Pioneer is positioning for a busy development schedule in the coming months across both Midland and Upton counties.

For land teams, service companies, and E&P planners, tracking permit filings at this level of detail is essential for anticipating rig moves, service demand, and acreage competition. DownHole Digital monitors Texas RRC permit activity in real time, giving oilfield professionals early visibility into where operators like Diamondback, DE Central, Pioneer, COG, and Apache are directing capital before rigs even mobilize. This kind of early-signal intelligence helps land teams prioritize outreach, helps service providers forecast demand by county, and helps operators benchmark their permitting pace against peers.

With crude prices holding above $80 per barrel and permitting activity concentrated in Midland, Reagan, Upton, Webb, and Andrews counties, the Permian Basin remains the epicenter of Texas drilling activity heading into the second half of July 2026.

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