Texas Drilling Permits: Week of October 02–October 09, 2026 — RRC Activity Report

Texas Drilling Permits: Week of October 02–October 09, 2026 — RRC Activity Report

The Texas Railroad Commission recorded 133 new drilling permits for the week of October 02–October 09, 2026, reflecting continued operator activity across the state's core producing basins. The Permian Basin accounted for 65 of those permits, underscoring its ongoing role as the primary driver of Texas drilling activity even as WTI crude traded at $90.45 per barrel, up $1.02 from the prior close.

County-level data shows Lea County leading the pack with 33 permits, followed closely by Eddy County with 32. Together, these two New Mexico-adjacent counties accounted for nearly half of all permits filed this week, highlighting sustained interest in the Delaware Basin. Martin County posted 13 permits, Upton County followed with 10, and Live Oak County rounded out the top five with 7 permits, pointing to continued activity in both the Midland Basin and the Eagle Ford region.

On the operator side, Mewbourne Oil Co. topped the list with 26 permits, narrowly ahead of EOG Resources Inc. with 23. Diamondback E&P LLC filed 16 permits during the period, while Spur Energy Partners LLC and Texas Standard Operating NM LLC added 6 and 5 permits, respectively. These five operators combined for 76 permits, more than half of the week's total statewide filings, signaling concentrated capital deployment among a handful of active players.

Among this week's highest-priority permits, Diamondback E&P LLC filed four separate permits in Martin County — #919038, #919032, #919036, and #919035 — all currently showing spud dates as TBD. RHB Exploration & Production, LLC also filed a notable permit in Mitchell County (#893585), also with an undetermined spud timeline. While these permits carry a priority score of 0, their concentration from a single operator in Martin County suggests a developing pad or multi-well program worth tracking as spud schedules firm up.

For land teams, service companies, and E&P operators trying to stay ahead of drilling momentum, permit filings remain one of the earliest and most reliable signals of upcoming activity. Tracking which counties and operators are ramping up — and which permits are likely to convert to actual spuds — can inform everything from rig scheduling to midstream capacity planning and vendor outreach.

DownHole Digital monitors Texas RRC permit filings in real time, helping oilfield professionals identify emerging activity in counties like Lea, Eddy, Martin, Upton, and Live Oak before competitors do. With crude prices holding above $90 and permit counts remaining steady, staying current on weekly filing trends is essential for teams positioning for the next development cycle.

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