Texas Drilling Permits: Week of September 08–September 15, 2026 — RRC Activity Report

Texas Drilling Permits: Week of September 08–September 15, 2026 — RRC Activity Report

The Texas Railroad Commission recorded 249 new drilling permits during the week of September 08–September 15, 2026, reflecting continued steady development activity across the state's core producing basins. The Permian Basin remained the primary driver of permitting volume, accounting for 72 of the week's total filings, underscoring the region's ongoing role as the backbone of Texas unconventional development.

County-level data shows Lea County leading all counties with 39 new permits, followed closely by Eddy County with 33. Loving County posted 23 permits, while Martin County added 21. Dimmit County rounded out the top five with 13 permits, signaling continued interest in the Eagle Ford as operators balance activity between the Permian and other legacy plays. Together, these five counties accounted for the bulk of the week's permitting activity, reinforcing the concentration of drilling investment in West Texas and the Delaware Basin subregion.

On the operator side, Diamondback E&P LLC topped the list with 23 permits, followed by Devon Energy Production Company, LP with 20. Kaiser-Francis Oil Co filed 15 permits, Anadarko E&P Onshore LLC added 12, and Spur Energy Partners LLC rounded out the top five with 9 permits. This mix of large-cap independents and private operators highlights sustained capital deployment across multiple operator tiers, even as commodity prices hold in a relatively tight range.

Among the week's notable filings, several permits stood out for tracking purposes, including Burlington Resources O & G Co LP's application in Live Oak County (Permit #918468), Hilcorp Energy Company's filing in Freestone County (Permit #918482), and a cluster of three permits from Gulftex Energy, LLC in McMullen County (Permits #918474, #918475, and #918477). While spud dates for these permits remain unannounced, their filing pattern is worth monitoring for potential Eagle Ford and East Texas activity in the coming weeks.

Market conditions remained largely stable heading into the reporting period, with WTI crude settling at $102.38 per barrel, down $0.10 from the prior close. The modest pullback suggests operators are maintaining permitting momentum despite short-term price softness, a sign of continued confidence in near-term development economics.

For land teams, service providers, and E&P professionals tracking permit trends across Texas, staying current on RRC filings is essential for identifying emerging activity clusters and operator strategy shifts. DownHole Digital monitors these permits in real time, giving industry professionals timely access to county-level and operator-level filing data as it's released by the Railroad Commission.

To stay ahead of Texas drilling activity and get real-time permit alerts, learn more at downhole.digital.