Texas Drilling Permits: Week of July 27–August 03, 2026 — RRC Activity Report

Texas Drilling Permits: Week of July 27–August 03, 2026 — RRC Activity Report

The Railroad Commission of Texas recorded 200 new drilling permits for the week of July 27–August 03, 2026, reflecting continued operator interest across the Permian Basin despite softer crude pricing. WTI crude settled at $79.29/bbl, down $5.17 from the prior close, a pullback that operators appear to be looking past as they lock in permits for future development.

Eddy County led all counties with 48 new permits, followed by Lea County with 32, Ector County with 20, Reeves County with 12, and Andrews County with 9. Together, these five counties accounted for the vast majority of filings this week, underscoring the Permian Basin's continued dominance in Texas drilling activity. Basin-level totals show 80 permits tied directly to Permian operations, reinforcing the region's position as the primary driver of new well activity in the state.

On the operator side, Kaiser-Francis Oil Co topped the list with 19 permits, followed closely by WPX Energy Permian, LLC and EOG Resources, Inc., each with 13 permits. XTO Energy, Inc. filed 12 permits, while XTO Permian Operating LLC. added another 11, giving the XTO family of companies a combined 23 permits for the week. This level of activity from both independents and major operators points to sustained capital deployment even as commodity prices soften.

Among the highest-priority permits filed this week, Eddy County again stood out. Paloma Permian AssetCo, LLC filed three notable permits — NM-30-015-58587, NM-30-015-58589, and NM-30-015-58591 — while XTO Permian Operating LLC. filed two, NM-30-015-58588 and NM-30-015-58590. All five permits are currently listed with an estimated spud date of TBD, suggesting these locations are in early planning stages rather than imminent development. Land and business development teams tracking Eddy County activity should watch these permits closely as spud timing firms up.

For E&P teams, landmen, and oilfield service providers, this week's data reinforces a few key takeaways: Eddy and Lea counties remain the epicenters of new permitting activity, XTO's combined entities continue to be among the most active filers in the basin, and Permian-focused operators are not slowing down despite a nearly $5 drop in WTI pricing. Tracking these trends early gives service companies and land teams a competitive edge when identifying upcoming drilling programs and staffing or equipment needs.

Staying on top of permit filings county-by-county and operator-by-operator is essential for anyone making decisions around leasing, logistics, or service contracts. DownHole Digital monitors Texas RRC drilling permits in real time, giving oilfield professionals immediate visibility into new filings, top operators, and emerging basin trends as soon as they hit the record.

To get real-time alerts on permits like these before your competitors do, learn more at downhole.digital.