Texas Drilling Permits: Week of September 15–September 22, 2026 — RRC Activity Report

Texas Drilling Permits: Week of September 15–September 22, 2026 — RRC Activity Report

The Texas Railroad Commission recorded 289 new drilling permits for the week of September 15–September 22, 2026, reflecting steady activity across the state's core producing basins despite a notable pullback in crude prices. WTI crude settled at $89.96 per barrel, down $11.95 from the prior close, a sharp move that operators and land teams will be watching closely as they weigh near-term capital plans against permit backlogs already in motion.

Martin County led all counties with 31 new permits, followed closely by Lea County with 30 and Loving County with 27. Reeves County rounded out the Permian-heavy leaderboard with 18 permits, while Webb County posted 17, underscoring continued interest outside the core Permian footprint. The Permian Basin itself accounted for 47 permits this week, reaffirming its position as the primary driver of Texas drilling activity even as prices soften.

On the operator side, Paloma Permian AssetCo, LLC topped the list with 26 permits, followed by Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc. with 24. Diamondback E&P LLC filed 18 permits, while Silver Hill Energy Operating LLC and EOG Resources, Inc. each logged 17. These five operators alone accounted for over a third of total permit volume for the week, signaling continued consolidation of drilling activity among a handful of well-capitalized players in the current price environment.

Among the week's highest-priority filings, Summit Petroleum LLC submitted Permit #918618 in Upton County, BPX Operating Company filed Permit #918636 in De Witt County, and Hilcorp Energy Company logged Permit #918622 in Winkler County. Silver Hill Energy Operating LLC was particularly active in East Texas, filing Permit #918632 and Permit #918627, both in San Augustine County. Spud dates for these permits remain TBD, and land and midstream teams should monitor these filings for early signals of activity shifts into new acreage positions.

With WTI down nearly $12 week-over-week, the coming weeks will show whether permitting pace holds steady or begins to taper in response to pricing pressure. Historically, permit filings lag price moves by several weeks, so this data point is worth tracking alongside future RRC releases.

For E&P teams, land professionals, and oilfield service providers, staying current on permit filings, operator activity, and county-level trends is essential for forecasting drilling programs and service demand. DownHole Digital monitors Texas RRC permit data in real time, giving operators and vendors an early look at where activity is heading before it shows up in rig counts or production reports.

Learn more at downhole.digital.