Texas Drilling Permits: Week of September 17–September 24, 2026 — RRC Activity Report

Texas Drilling Permits: Week of September 17–September 24, 2026 — RRC Activity Report

The Texas Railroad Commission recorded 252 new drilling permits during the week of September 17–September 24, 2026, reflecting continued momentum across the state's core producing basins even as WTI crude settled at $93.69 per barrel, down $2.09 from the prior close. The dip in oil price did little to slow permitting activity, particularly in West Texas, where operators continue to lock in future drilling locations.

The Permian Basin remained the dominant driver of permit activity, accounting for 85 of the week's total filings. Leading the county-level breakdown was Lea County with 48 permits, followed closely by Eddy County with 37. Loving County posted 25 new permits, while Martin County added 15. Webb County rounded out the top five with 9 permits, showing that South Texas activity, while smaller in scale, remains steady alongside the Permian's dominance.

On the operator side, Paloma Permian AssetCo, LLC topped the list with 20 new permits, signaling an active development push in its core acreage. Diamondback E&P LLC followed with 15 permits, while Marathon Oil Permian LLC and EOG Resources, Inc. each filed 14. COG Operating LLC rounded out the top five operators with 12 permits. Together, these five companies accounted for a significant share of the week's total activity, underscoring the concentration of permitting among a handful of well-capitalized Permian-focused operators.

Among the week's filings, several permits stood out for their locations outside the Permian core, including Pursuit Oil & Gas STX, LLC in Webb County, Southwest Operating, Inc.-Tyler in Limestone County, and Rising Star Energy Partners II in Refugio County. Reeves County saw a filing from Noble Energy Inc, while San Augustine County recorded activity from Rockcliff Energy Operating III. These permits currently carry no assigned priority score and no estimated spud date, making them ones to watch as operators finalize development timelines in the coming weeks.

For land teams, midstream planners, and oilfield service providers, tracking permit filings at this level of detail is essential for anticipating rig moves, staffing needs, and infrastructure demand. DownHole Digital monitors RRC drilling permit activity in real time, giving E&P companies, land professionals, and service providers early visibility into where operators are staking new locations across Texas basins. With Permian activity continuing to lead statewide permitting and operators like Diamondback, Marathon, EOG, and COG maintaining steady filing paces, staying current on weekly permit data offers a clear edge in a competitive market.

To get real-time alerts and detailed permit tracking tailored to your operating areas, learn more at downhole.digital.