Texas Drilling Permits: Week of October 23–October 30, 2026 — RRC Activity Report

Texas Drilling Permits: Week of October 23–October 30, 2026 — RRC Activity Report

The Texas Railroad Commission recorded 312 new drilling permits for the week of October 23–October 30, 2026, reflecting continued momentum across the Permian Basin and surrounding plays as WTI crude settled at $104.49 per barrel, up $2.73 from the prior close. The price strength appears to be supporting steady permitting activity heading into November, with operators positioning for continued development across West Texas and the broader Permian footprint.

Lea County led all counties with 35 new permits, followed closely by Martin County with 33, Reagan County with 30, Eddy County with 27, and La Salle County rounding out the top five with 14 permits. The concentration of activity in these counties underscores sustained operator interest in core Permian acreage, where the basin accounted for 62 permits this week alone — a significant share of total statewide filings.

On the operator side, DE Central Operating, LLC topped the list with 24 permits, signaling an active development program for the week. High Noon Resources, LLC, Diamondback E&P LLC, and Avant Operating II, LLC each filed 15 permits, showing a tight cluster of mid-tier activity among independent and private operators. XTO Permian Operating LLC. rounded out the top five with 11 permits, continuing its steady cadence of Permian development.

Among the week's highest-priority permits, Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc. filed four separate permits in Martin County (#919641, #919642, #919643, #919644), pointing to a multi-well pad development likely tied to its existing Martin County position. Hilcorp Energy Company also filed a notable permit (#919640) in Hockley County, expanding its footprint outside the core Permian counties. Spud dates for these permits remain TBD, which is typical at this stage of the permitting cycle, but the clustering of Pioneer's filings suggests near-term drilling activity to watch in Martin County.

For land teams, service companies, and operators tracking competitive activity, this week's data reinforces the Permian Basin's continued dominance in Texas permitting, with Martin, Reagan, and La Salle counties remaining key areas for new well starts. Rising crude prices appear to be reinforcing operator confidence, and permit volume suggests Q4 2026 drilling programs are still ramping rather than slowing.

Staying current on weekly RRC filings is critical for identifying emerging hot spots, tracking competitor activity, and forecasting service demand before rigs move. DownHole Digital monitors Texas RRC drilling permits in real time, giving E&P, land, and oilfield services teams early visibility into new filings, operator trends, and county-level activity as soon as they hit the record.

Learn more at downhole.digital.