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

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

The Texas Railroad Commission recorded 336 new drilling permits for the week of September 11–September 18, 2026, reflecting continued steady activity across the state's core producing basins despite a pullback in crude prices. WTI settled at $96.21 per barrel, down $5.18 from the prior close, but operators showed no signs of slowing permit filings heading into the fourth quarter.

The Permian Basin remained the dominant driver of new permit activity, accounting for 78 permits during the week. County-level data underscores this trend, with Lea County leading all counties at 52 permits, followed by Martin County with 40, Eddy County with 26, Webb County with 19, and Reeves County with 14. This distribution highlights sustained development interest in both the Delaware and Midland sub-basins, as well as continued Eagle Ford-adjacent activity in Webb County.

On the operator side, Diamondback E&P LLC topped the list with 29 new permits, reinforcing its position as one of the most active Permian developers this quarter. Paloma Permian AssetCo, LLC followed closely with 24 permits, while EOG Resources, Inc. filed 20. Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc. added 18 permits, and Kaiser-Francis Oil Co rounded out the top five with 15. Together, these five operators accounted for a significant share of total weekly filings, signaling continued capital deployment from both large-cap independents and private operators.

Among the week's highest-priority permits, BPX Operating Company filed three separate permits in De Witt County (#918586, #918587, #918588), suggesting a multi-well pad development in that area. Fasken Oil and Ranch, Ltd. also filed a notable permit in Andrews County (#917422), while Titan Opco, LLC submitted a permit in Wilson County (#918571). Spud dates for these permits remain TBD, and priority scores were listed at 0, indicating these filings are in early administrative stages rather than imminent drilling activity.

For land teams, service providers, and operators tracking competitive activity, this week's data illustrates the continued concentration of permitting in West Texas counties, even as commodity prices soften. Understanding which operators are expanding acreage positions—and where—remains critical for midstream planning, service crew allocation, and land acquisition strategy.

DownHole Digital monitors Texas RRC permit filings in real time, giving E&P teams, land professionals, and oilfield service companies early visibility into where drilling activity is heading before it shows up in production reports. As permit volumes shift week to week across counties like Lea, Martin, Eddy, Webb, and Reeves, having timely, accurate data can make the difference between reacting to the market and staying ahead of it.

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