Texas Drilling Permits: Week of July 23–July 30, 2026 — RRC Activity Report

Texas Drilling Permits: Week of July 23–July 30, 2026 — RRC Activity Report

The Railroad Commission of Texas logged 268 new drilling permits during the week of July 23–July 30, 2026, reflecting continued momentum across the state's core producing regions. Operators filed at a steady clip even as WTI crude settled at $83.41 per barrel, up $0.80 from the prior close, giving E&P teams a modest tailwind heading into the back half of the summer drilling season.

County-level activity remained concentrated in the Permian Basin footprint, which accounted for 134 of the week's total permits — exactly half of all statewide filings. Eddy County led all counties with 86 permits, followed by Lea County with 48. Reeves County and Ector County tied for third with 20 permits apiece, while Andrews County rounded out the top five with 10 filings. This distribution underscores the sustained operator interest in the Delaware Basin and greater Permian corridor, where infrastructure buildout and takeaway capacity continue to support new well activity.

On the operator side, Kaiser-Francis Oil Co. topped the list with 19 permits, followed closely by Oxy USA Inc. with 15. COG Operating LLC filed 14 permits, while WPX Energy Permian, LLC and Longfellow Energy, LP each secured 13. Together, these five operators accounted for roughly 27% of total statewide permit volume for the week, signaling concentrated development programs among a handful of active players.

Several permits filed this week carry notable operator or geographic significance despite lacking finalized spud estimates. XTO Energy Inc. filed permit #917339 in San Augustine County, Surge Operating, LLC filed #917348 in Borden County, Big Lake Corporation filed #917363 in Victoria County, Pitts Energy Co. filed #917337 in Ward County, and Killam Oil Co., Ltd. filed #917353 in Webb County. These filings span a broad geographic range outside the core Permian counties, pointing to diversified operator activity across South Texas, the Gulf Coast region, and the Permian's eastern edge.

For land teams, midstream planners, and oilfield service providers, tracking permit filings at this granularity is essential for anticipating rig moves, staffing needs, and takeaway demand weeks before spud dates are confirmed. DownHole Digital monitors RRC permit activity in real time, giving subscribers early visibility into county-level trends, operator drilling programs, and basin-wide shifts as they happen — rather than waiting for monthly aggregated reports.

With crude prices holding above $83 and permit volume staying robust across Eddy, Lea, Reeves, Ector, and Andrews counties, the coming weeks should offer further insight into how operators like Kaiser-Francis, Oxy, COG Operating, WPX Energy Permian, and Longfellow Energy are positioning their 2026 development plans.

Learn more about real-time Texas drilling permit tracking at downhole.digital.