Texas Drilling Permits: Week of July 17–July 24, 2026 — RRC Activity Report

Texas Drilling Permits: Week of July 17–July 24, 2026 — RRC Activity Report

The Texas Railroad Commission recorded 154 new drilling permits during the week of July 17–July 24, 2026, reflecting continued operator commitment to the state's core producing basins amid a notable jump in crude prices. WTI crude closed the week at $89.92 per barrel, up $6.69 from the prior close, a move that likely reinforced operator confidence in near-term development budgets across the Permian Basin and beyond.

Of the total permits filed, 95 were tied to the Permian Basin, underscoring its continued dominance as the primary driver of Texas drilling activity. Eddy County led all counties with 56 permits, followed by Lea County with 39. While both counties sit on the New Mexico side of the Permian, their permit activity is closely tracked by Texas-focused operators and service companies working the broader basin footprint. On the Texas side, Ward County posted 10 permits, while Reeves and Pecos counties each recorded 6, keeping West Texas activity concentrated in the traditional Permian core.

Operator activity was led by OXY USA Inc, which filed 17 new permits, followed by COG Operating LLC with 11 and EOG Resources Inc with 10. Avant Operating II, LLC added 9 permits, and Longfellow Energy, LP rounded out the top five with 8. This mix of major independents and private operators suggests sustained capital deployment across both large-scale development programs and more targeted regional plays.

Among the week's highest-priority permits, EOG Resources Inc filed in Gonzales County, TDC Engineering, Inc. filed in Nolan County, and Rogers, S. K. Oil, Inc. filed in Hockley County. Diamondback E&P LLC filed two separate permits in Martin County, reinforcing the operator's continued focus on that part of the Midland Basin. While spud dates for these permits remain to be determined, their filing signals forward-looking development plans worth monitoring closely in the weeks ahead.

For land teams, service companies, and E&P operators tracking competitive activity, permit data offers an early signal of where capital and rigs are headed next. Understanding which counties and operators are ramping activity — and at what pace — can inform everything from leasing strategy to equipment staging and workforce planning.

DownHole Digital monitors Texas RRC permit filings in real time, giving oilfield professionals a faster, clearer view of drilling activity across every major basin, county, and operator in the state. Rather than waiting on delayed reports, teams can track permit trends as they happen and respond to shifting operator behavior with confidence.

To stay ahead of Texas drilling activity as it unfolds, learn more at downhole.digital.