Texas Drilling Permits: Week of July 21–July 28, 2026 — RRC Activity Report

Texas Drilling Permits: Week of July 21–July 28, 2026 — RRC Activity Report

The Texas Railroad Commission recorded 174 new drilling permits for the week of July 21–July 28, 2026, reflecting continued operator interest across the Permian Basin despite a notable pullback in crude pricing. WTI settled at $81.85 per barrel, down $10.34 from the prior close, a sharp one-week move that operators and land teams will want to watch as they plan upcoming spuds and capital allocation for the back half of the year.

Eddy County led all counties with 84 permits, more than double the next closest county and a clear signal that operators continue to concentrate acreage development in that area. Lea County followed with 34 permits, while Reeves County posted 9, Andrews County added 7, and Pecos County rounded out the top five with 6 permits. Together, these five counties accounted for the vast majority of statewide activity, underscoring the Permian Basin's continued dominance this week — 118 of the 174 total permits, or roughly two-thirds of all filings, originated from Permian-focused operators.

On the operator side, OXY USA INC topped the list with 19 new permits, followed closely by XTO Permian Operating LLC with 17. Longfellow Energy, LP filed 16 permits, COG Operating LLC added 11, and EOG Resources Inc rounded out the top five with 10 permits. This spread of activity across both major producers and independents points to broad-based drilling interest rather than concentration in a single operator, which is typical for a mature, high-density basin like the Permian.

Among the week's highest-priority filings, Continental Resources, Inc. submitted five consecutive permits — numbers 917303 through 917307 — all located in Pecos County. Estimated spud dates for these permits are still pending, and current priority scoring shows a value of zero, meaning further data updates will be needed before spud timing and rig deployment can be projected with confidence. Land and business development teams tracking Pecos County activity should keep an eye on these filings as more operational detail becomes available.

With crude prices pulling back this sharply in a single week, permit volume in the coming weeks will be worth watching closely — historically, price volatility can lead to short-term shifts in permitting pace, particularly among smaller independents. For now, permit filings remain strong, suggesting operators are still moving forward with previously planned development programs.

Staying current on permit filings, operator activity, and county-level trends is essential for land teams, service companies, and business development professionals trying to anticipate where the next rig will move. DownHole Digital monitors Texas RRC drilling permit activity in real time, giving oilfield professionals early visibility into new filings, operator trends, and basin-level shifts as they happen.

Learn more at downhole.digital.