Texas Drilling Permits: Week of August 11–August 18, 2026 — RRC Activity Report

Texas Drilling Permits: Week of August 11–August 18, 2026 — RRC Activity Report

The Railroad Commission of Texas recorded 290 new drilling permits for the week of August 11–August 18, 2026, reflecting continued steady activity across the state's core producing regions. With WTI crude trading at $84.16 per barrel, up $2.91 from the prior close, operators appear encouraged by firming prices as they push forward with development plans heading into the back half of the year.

County-level data shows Lea County leading permit activity with 68 filings, followed closely by Eddy County with 56. These two counties alone account for nearly 43% of total permits filed this week, underscoring the concentration of drilling interest in this corridor. Andrews County posted 17 permits, while Reeves and Midland counties each recorded 15, rounding out the top five counties by volume. The Permian Basin overall accounted for 124 permits, confirming its position as the dominant basin for new drilling activity in Texas this week.

On the operator side, EOG Resources Inc. topped the list with 38 permits, reaffirming its position as one of the most active operators currently expanding its Permian footprint. Matador Production Company followed with 21 permits, while XTO Energy, Inc. filed 19. Diamondback E&P LLC secured 16 permits, and XTO Permian Operating LLC. rounded out the top five with 15 filings. Together, these five operators represent a significant share of this week's total activity, signaling continued consolidation of drilling programs among well-capitalized producers with strong Permian acreage positions.

Among the week's highest-priority permits, several notable filings emerged outside the Permian core. Pitts Energy Co. filed a permit in Ward County (Permit #917761), while Silver Hill Energy Operating LLC filed three separate permits in Shelby County (#917767, #917768, and #917769), pointing to renewed interest in East Texas acreage. Sabine Energy Inc. also filed a permit in Harrison County (#911629). Spud dates for these permits remain to be determined, but their filing this week is worth tracking for land and business development teams monitoring activity outside the traditional Permian hotspots.

For land teams, midstream planners, and oilfield service providers, permit filings like these offer an early signal of where capital and crew activity may be headed next. Tracking weekly RRC permit data by county and operator helps teams anticipate rig moves, staff accordingly, and position for upcoming bid opportunities before competitors catch on.

DownHole Digital monitors Texas RRC drilling permit activity in real time, giving E&P companies, land professionals, and oilfield service providers early visibility into new filings, top operators, and emerging basin trends as they happen. Rather than waiting on delayed public reporting, teams can use this data to move faster on business development and operational planning decisions tied to fresh permit activity across Texas.

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