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San Juan Basin Formation in Colorado

1,831 wells across 248 recorded operators, with 30 drilling permits filed in the 24-month window at summary refresh.

Buckhead Energy analysis of public oil and gas data. Formation summary date: 2026-11-01.

Quick answer: The San Juan Basin formation in Colorado has 1,831 wells on record across 248 recorded operators, with 30 drilling permits filed in the 24-month window at source refresh. Its operators with the most wells on record are Simcoe LLC, Red Willow Production Company, Catamount Energy Partners, Hughes William E and Red Mesa Holdings/O&G. Source: Buckhead Energy analysis of public oil and gas data. Formation summary date: 2026-11-01.

Total Wells
1,831
Recorded Operators
248
Total Lateral
562 miles
Permits (24mo)
30

Top Operators in the San Juan Basin (Colorado)

The operators with the most well counts targeting the San Juan Basin formation in Colorado:

#OperatorWells in San Juan Basin
1 Simcoe LLC 333
2 Red Willow Production Company 208
3 Catamount Energy Partners 166
4 Hughes William E 76
5 Red Mesa Holdings/O&G 76
6 Hilcorp Energy Company 68
7 Williford Resources 58
8 Enduring Resources 55
9 Petrox Resources 45
10 Morning Star Oil Company 32

Primary Colorado Counties for the San Juan Basin

The Colorado counties with the most San Juan Basin activity:

La Plata, Archuleta, Montezuma

San Juan Basin permits, share and median lateral length by year

Drilling permits in Colorado each year, the San Juan Basin count and share of them, and the median lateral length of those San Juan Basin permits.

YearState permitsThis formationShareMedian lateral
2026 604 10 1.7% 15,462 ft
2025 696 17 2.4% 10,815 ft
2024 862 14 1.6% 2,048 ft
2023 902 43 4.8% 8,332 ft
2022 1,044 80 7.7% 5,296 ft
2021 517 25 4.8% 4,216 ft
2020 958 <3 — n<5
2019 1,637 10 0.6% 531 ft

Colorado permit mix by formation (share of permits)

Share of each year’s Colorado drilling permits by target formation, for the formations with the most permits.

YearMuddy J SandDenver BasinMesaverdePiceance BasinSan Juan BasinLas Vegas - Raton Basin
2026 16.2% 69.5% — 6.8% 1.7% 1.2%
2025 16.8% 64.1% 3.3% 11.5% 2.4% 0.7%
2024 15.3% 64.6% 2% 12.3% 1.6% 1.2%
2023 22.1% 56.8% 5.7% 8.5% 4.8% 1.1%
2022 37.1% 32.5% 8.3% 9.5% 7.7% 0.5%
2021 65.6% — 26.1% — 4.8% 0.6%
2020 88.4% 0.6% 10.5% — — —
2019 85.1% 0.4% 10.8% 0.2% 0.6% —

How these figures are computed

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.

Share is the formation’s permits as a percent of the state’s permits that year. Median lateral length is published only when at least 5 permits stand behind it.

Last computed: 2026-11-01. These figures are informational only and are not a valuation of any mineral or royalty interest.

About the San Juan Basin Formation in Colorado

The San Juan Basin is a formation/play group recorded in Colorado, with 1,831 wells on file across 248 distinct operators of record. Operators have filed 30 drilling permits targeting the San Juan Basin in the 24-month window at summary refresh. These are stored records, not a live measure of drilling.

Recorded formation activity provides regional context. It does not establish ownership, future production, royalty payments or a value for an individual tract. Consult qualified professionals about your specific interest.

Browse listed Colorado oil & gas formations & plays

Frequently Asked Questions

How many wells target the San Juan Basin formation in Colorado?

1,831 wells target the San Juan Basin in Colorado, worked by 248 recorded operators, per Buckhead Energy analysis of public oil and gas data. Formation summary date: 2026-11-01.

Who are the top operators in the San Juan Basin in Colorado?

The San Juan Basin operators with the most wells on record in Colorado are Simcoe LLC, Red Willow Production Company, Catamount Energy Partners, Hughes William E and Red Mesa Holdings/O&G. The full ranking is in the table on this page. Formation summary date: 2026-11-01.

How active is the San Juan Basin formation right now?

Operators filed 30 drilling permits targeting the San Juan Basin in the 24-month window at source refresh, per Buckhead Energy analysis of public oil and gas data. Formation summary date: 2026-11-01.

Is there active drilling in the San Juan Basin in Colorado?

Operators filed 30 new drilling permits targeting the San Juan Basin in Colorado in the 24-month window at source refresh. New permits and spuds record reported activity stages; they do not establish ongoing drilling, per Buckhead Energy analysis of public oil and gas data. Formation summary date: 2026-11-01.

What is the current San Juan Basin activity in Colorado?

San Juan Basin activity in Colorado includes 1,831 wells on record and 248 recorded operators, with 30 drilling permits filed in the 24-month window at source refresh — from Buckhead Energy analysis of public oil and gas data. Formation summary date: 2026-11-01.

Which Colorado counties have the most San Juan Basin activity?

The primary counties recorded for San Juan Basin in Colorado are La Plata, Archuleta, Montezuma. Formation summary date: 2026-11-01.

How do I find out what my San Juan Basin mineral rights are worth?

Value depends on your net mineral acres or royalty decimal, the operator, the remaining drilling locations, and current oil and gas prices. This page is informational only, not a valuation. Formation summary date: 2026-11-01.

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Quick Stats

Formation: San Juan Basin

State: Colorado

Total wells: 1,831

Recorded operators: 248

Permits 24mo: 30

Summary date: 2026-11-01

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