Texas Drilling Permits: Week of July 15–July 22, 2026 — RRC Activity Report

Texas Drilling Permits: Week of July 15–July 22, 2026 — RRC Activity Report

The Railroad Commission of Texas recorded 109 new drilling permits for the week of July 15–July 22, 2026, reflecting sustained operator interest across the Permian Basin as WTI crude climbed to $87.3 per barrel, up $4.81 from the prior close. The price jump appears to be reinforcing permitting momentum heading into the back half of the year.

Eddy County led all counties with 32 permits, followed by Lea County with 17. Warmer activity continued in Ward County with 9 permits, while Pecos County and Midland County rounded out the top five with 6 and 5 permits, respectively. The Permian Basin accounted for 49 of the week's total permits, underscoring its continued position as the primary growth engine for Texas drilling activity even as counties just across the New Mexico line factor into cross-border operator strategies.

On the operator side, OXY USA INC topped the list with 12 new permits, followed by EOG Resources Inc with 9. Amtex Energy, Inc. filed 8 permits, while Riley Permian Operating Company, LLC and Continental Resources, Inc. each secured 7. The mix of major independents and smaller operators filing double-digit permits in a single week points to broad-based confidence in current commodity pricing and continued development drilling across multiple basins.

Several high-priority permits stood out this week, though most carried a preliminary score of 0 with spud dates still to be determined. Silver Hill Energy Operating LLC filed two permits in Shelby County (#917183 and #917185), signaling renewed interest in East Texas acreage. Kinder Morgan Production Co LLC filed a permit in Scurry County (#917184), while Apache Corporation submitted a permit in Upton County (#917194) and COG Operating LLC filed in Andrews County (#917180). These permits are worth watching closely as operators finalize spud schedules in the coming weeks.

For land teams, E&P planning groups, and oilfield service providers, this week's permit data offers a clear signal: Permian activity remains the dominant driver of Texas drilling, but pockets of activity in East Texas and the Permian's northern reaches, including Scurry and Andrews counties, suggest operators are diversifying their development plans. Tracking these filings in real time is essential for anticipating rig moves, service demand, and acreage competition before they show up in public rig counts.

DownHole Digital monitors RRC permit filings in real time, giving oilfield professionals early visibility into operator activity, county-level trends, and high-priority permits as they're filed. Staying ahead of permit data like this week's Eddy County surge or Oxy USA's filing pace can make the difference between reacting to the market and anticipating it.

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