Monthly drilling permits filed in Texas, with spuds and first production alongside, the counties with the most permits, and how long permits take to reach spud. Every figure is a count or percentile Buckhead computes from grouped records; no individual well is listed.
Buckhead Energy analysis of public oil and gas data. Last computed: 2026-10-02.
Quick answer: Texas recorded at least 8,343 drilling permits in the 12 months through Sep 2026, by Buckhead Energy’s count of published monthly figures; Midland County had the most permits (743). The median permit reached spud in 41 days. Months with fewer than 3 permits are withheld, so totals are floors.
At least 8,343 in the 12 months through Sep 2026. The figure adds the published monthly counts; months with fewer than 3 permits are withheld, so it is a floor rather than an exact count.
By permits in the last 12 months: Midland County (743), Reeves County (600), Upton County (573). The table on this page lists up to 25 counties.
For permits 6 to 36 months old, the median permit reached spud in 41 days; the middle half took 19 to 81 days. Permits that were never spudded are not in these percentiles.
A permit is regulatory approval to drill. It does not establish that a well will be drilled, which tract it will include, or whether production or royalty payments will follow.
Last 24 months, newest first. Months with fewer than 3 wells in a column show <3. Figures for the most recent months may change as records are updated.
| Month | Permits | Spuds | First production |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | 912 | 175 | 0 |
| Aug 2026 | 847 | 223 | 0 |
| Jul 2026 | 755 | 232 | 254 |
| Jun 2026 | 824 | 260 | 359 |
| May 2026 | 712 | 248 | 372 |
| Apr 2026 | 730 | 346 | 425 |
| Mar 2026 | 758 | 393 | 498 |
| Feb 2026 | 554 | 252 | 404 |
| Jan 2026 | 605 | 338 | 460 |
| Dec 2025 | 514 | 305 | 488 |
| Nov 2025 | 413 | 351 | 432 |
| Oct 2025 | 719 | 416 | 449 |
| Sep 2025 | 545 | 379 | 476 |
| Aug 2025 | 585 | 432 | 519 |
| Jul 2025 | 654 | 356 | 479 |
| Jun 2025 | 654 | 420 | 489 |
| May 2025 | 519 | 473 | 539 |
| Apr 2025 | 732 | 479 | 501 |
| Mar 2025 | 677 | 462 | 554 |
| Feb 2025 | 667 | 533 | 503 |
| Jan 2025 | 675 | 509 | 483 |
| Dec 2024 | 541 | 440 | 417 |
| Nov 2024 | 529 | 450 | 376 |
| Oct 2024 | 622 | 447 | 546 |
Ranked by drilling permits in the last 12 complete months. At most 25 counties are shown.
| County | Permits | Spuds | First production |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midland | 743 | 354 | 504 |
| Reeves | 600 | 255 | 345 |
| Upton | 573 | 287 | 309 |
| Martin | 563 | 334 | 498 |
| Loving | 503 | 217 | 290 |
| Reagan | 338 | 158 | 214 |
| Webb | 317 | 178 | 172 |
| Glasscock | 296 | 128 | 133 |
| Andrews | 291 | 117 | 107 |
| De Witt | 207 | 101 | 152 |
| Howard | 203 | 105 | 91 |
| Culberson | 197 | 54 | 137 |
| Ector | 194 | 75 | 36 |
| Karnes | 176 | 81 | 125 |
| Crane | 174 | 96 | 84 |
| Dimmit | 160 | 65 | 91 |
| Yoakum | 149 | 69 | 41 |
| La Salle | 137 | 67 | 78 |
| Ward | 137 | 54 | 50 |
| Winkler | 136 | 36 | 12 |
| Pecos | 123 | 9 | 15 |
| Gaines | 120 | 22 | 11 |
| McMullen | 108 | 61 | 47 |
| San Augustine | 107 | 73 | 37 |
| Harrison | 104 | 55 | 32 |
Cycle-time cohorts: permit-to-spud uses permits 6–36 months old; spud-to-first-production uses spuds 12–36 months old.
| Stage | Wells | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Permit to spud | 10,957 | 19 | 41 | 81 |
| Spud to first production | 11,169 | 119 | 181 | 249 |
Buckhead Energy computes every figure on this page from grouped records in public oil and gas data. The page shows counts, sums, percentiles and indexes only; it does not list individual wells, leases or permits.
Counts under 3 wells and percentiles under 5 wells are withheld; totals are floors.
12-month totals add only the monthly figures that were published, so they are floors, not exact counts.
Cycle-time cohorts: permit-to-spud uses permits 6–36 months old; spud-to-first-production uses spuds 12–36 months old.
Last computed: 2026-10-02. These figures are informational only and are not a valuation of any mineral or royalty interest.
Activity in a county does not establish anything about a specific tract. Compare these figures with your own lease, division order and statements when considering your mineral rights.
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