# Texas Drilling Permit Activity
> **Breadcrumb:** Home › Permit Tracker › Texas drilling permit activity

> Texas drilling permit activity: monthly permits, spuds and first production, top counties by permits, and permit-to-spud cycle times.

**URL:** https://www.buckheadenergy.com/drilling-permit-activity-texas
**Source:** Buckhead Energy (https://www.buckheadenergy.com/)
**Generated:** 2026-10-02 (heuristic; server-side extraction)

## Answer
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.

## Frequently Asked Questions
**How many drilling permits were filed in Texas in the last 12 months?**
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.

**Which Texas counties have the most drilling permits?**
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.

**How long does a Texas drilling permit take to reach spud?**
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.

**What does a drilling permit near my minerals mean?**
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.

## Dataset
**Name:** Texas Drilling Permit Activity

Texas drilling permit activity: monthly permits, spuds and first production, top counties by permits, and permit-to-spud cycle times.

**Variables measured:**
- Monthly drilling permits
- Monthly spuds
- Monthly first production
- Permits by county (12 months)
- Permit-to-spud days (percentiles)
- Permit-to-spud conversion rate

## Page Outline
- Texas Drilling Permit Activity
  - Frequently Asked Questions
  - Texas permits, spuds and first production by month
  - Top Texas counties by permits (last 12 months)
  - Texas cycle times (percentiles, days)
  - How these figures are computed
  - Own Mineral Rights in Texas?
  - Related Operator Intelligence

## Related Pages
- [Texas Oil & Gas Industry Snapshot Dashboard](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/texas-oil-gas-industry-snapshot)
- [Top Texas Operators Leaderboard](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/top-operators-texas)
- [Texas Oil & Gas Production Distribution](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/oil-gas-production-distribution-texas)
- [Texas Spud Counts by County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/spud-activity-texas)
- [Texas First-Production Counts by County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/first-production-activity-texas)
- [Texas DUC Inventory (Drilled, Uncompleted)](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/duc-aging-texas)
- [Texas County Drilling Activity Rankings](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/county-drilling-activity-texas)
- [Texas Formations & Plays Directory](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/formations-texas)
- [Oklahoma Industry Snapshot (sibling state)](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/oklahoma-oil-gas-industry-snapshot)
- [Largest US Operators — National Leaderboard](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/top-operators-us)
- [Browse the Full Operator Directory](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/operators)
- [Live Oil & Gas Prices (WTI + Henry Hub)](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/oil-gas-prices)
- [Sell Your Texas Mineral Rights](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/sell/texas)
- [Permian Basin Mineral Rights Guide](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/permian-basin-mineral-rights)
- [Austin Chalk Giddings Trend](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/austin-chalk-giddings-mineral-rights)
- [East Texas Oilfield](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/east-texas-oilfield-mineral-rights)
- [Sell Mineral Rights in Texas](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/mineral-rights/texas)
- [Permit tracker: all states](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/permit-tracker)

## About Buckhead Energy
Buckhead Energy is a direct buyer, not a broker — we purchase mineral and royalty interests with our own capital. Buckhead Energy buys mineral and royalty interests across all 50 states and has completed acquisitions in 33 states. Buckhead Energy has been buying mineral and royalty interests since 2006. Buckhead Energy holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. Buckhead provides a free written offer. Buckhead Energy typically provides an offer within 24–48 hours. Closings typically take 30–45 days, subject to title review and clearance.

**Sell mineral rights:** https://www.buckheadenergy.com/sell
**Operator directory:** https://www.buckheadenergy.com/operators