Cotton Valley Formation in Texas: Operators, Permits & Activity 2026

Formation data coverage

Formation summary: Stored source refresh: 2026-09-16. This formation/play summary uses recorded well and operator counts and permit dates in the preceding 24 months at summary refresh. Operator counts do not verify current operations. Summary counts and the separately refreshed permit and DUC lists may have different coverage. This is a capped directory of stored records, not a complete statewide count. Permit list: No stored records are available in this view; this does not establish zero activity. At most 50 displayed permit records match the formation name, ordered by permit date. This operator-linked list can differ from the summary permit count; a permit is not proof of drilling or production. This is a capped directory of stored records, not a complete statewide count. DUC list: No stored records are available in this view; this does not establish zero activity. At most 30 displayed records match the formation name, ordered by spud date. A spud date with no reported first production is a DUC proxy, not verified completion status. Elapsed days are computed at source refresh. This is a capped directory of stored records, not a complete statewide count.

Formation summary source

Stored source refresh: 2026-09-16. This formation/play summary uses recorded well and operator counts and permit dates in the preceding 24 months at summary refresh. Operator counts do not verify current operations. Summary counts and the separately refreshed permit and DUC lists may have different coverage. This is a capped directory of stored records, not a complete statewide count.

Compiled from Texas Railroad Commission records through a commercial well-data aggregator. Scheduled refreshes do not guarantee that new regulator filings are available. Use the source records to check a specific well.

Permit-list source

No stored records are available in this view; this does not establish zero activity. At most 50 displayed permit records match the formation name, ordered by permit date. This operator-linked list can differ from the summary permit count; a permit is not proof of drilling or production. This is a capped directory of stored records, not a complete statewide count.

DUC-list source

No stored records are available in this view; this does not establish zero activity. At most 30 displayed records match the formation name, ordered by spud date. A spud date with no reported first production is a DUC proxy, not verified completion status. Elapsed days are computed at source refresh. This is a capped directory of stored records, not a complete statewide count.

Total Wells

17,510

Recorded Operators

1,247

Total Lateral

1,043 miles

Permits (24mo)

Top Operators in the Cotton Valley (Texas)

The operators with the most well counts targeting the Cotton Valley formation in Texas:

#	Operator	Wells in Cotton Valley
1	Hilcorp Energy Company	2,717
2	Diversified Production LLC	1,956
3	Mmgl East Texas Ii, LLC	1,002
4	Basa Resources	966
5	Xto Energy	768
6	Faulconer Energy LLC	618
7	Valence Operating Company	528
8	Linder John Operating	301
9	Urban Oil & Gas Group	288
10	Exxon Mobil	283

Primary Texas Counties for the Cotton Valley

The Texas counties with the most Cotton Valley activity:

Freestone, Smith, Limestone, Wood, Rusk

About the Cotton Valley Formation in Texas

The Cotton Valley is a formation/play group recorded in Texas, with 17,510 wells on file across 1,247 distinct operators of record. Operators have filed 87 drilling permits targeting the Cotton Valley 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many wells target the Cotton Valley formation in Texas?

17,510 wells target the Cotton Valley in Texas, worked by 1,247 recorded operators, per TX RRC well-header records. Summary: Stored source refresh: 2026-09-16. Permit list: No stored records are available in this view; this does not establish zero activity. DUC list: No stored records are available in this view; this does not establish zero activity. The lists have separate coverage limits.

Who are the top operators in the Cotton Valley in Texas?

By well count, the operators with the most Cotton Valley wells on record in Texas are Hilcorp Energy Company, Diversified Production LLC, Mmgl East Texas Ii, LLC, BASA Resources and XTO Energy. The full ranking is in the table on this page. Summary: Stored source refresh: 2026-09-16. Permit list: No stored records are available in this view; this does not establish zero activity. DUC list: No stored records are available in this view; this does not establish zero activity. The lists have separate coverage limits.

How active is the Cotton Valley formation right now?

Operators filed 87 drilling permits targeting the Cotton Valley in the 24-month window at source refresh, per TX RRC records. Summary: Stored source refresh: 2026-09-16. Permit list: No stored records are available in this view; this does not establish zero activity. DUC list: No stored records are available in this view; this does not establish zero activity. The lists have separate coverage limits.

Is there active drilling in the Cotton Valley in Texas?

Operators filed 87 new drilling permits targeting the Cotton Valley in Texas in the 24-month window at source refresh. New permits and spuds record reported activity stages; they do not establish ongoing drilling, per TX RRC records. Summary: Stored source refresh: 2026-09-16. Permit list: No stored records are available in this view; this does not establish zero activity. DUC list: No stored records are available in this view; this does not establish zero activity. The lists have separate coverage limits.

What is the current Cotton Valley activity in Texas?

Cotton Valley activity in Texas includes 17,510 wells on record and 1,247 recorded operators, led by Hilcorp Energy Company, Diversified Production LLC, Mmgl East Texas Ii, LLC, BASA Resources and XTO Energy, with 87 drilling permits filed in the 24-month window at source refresh — from Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) well-header records. Summary: Stored source refresh: 2026-09-16. Permit list: No stored records are available in this view; this does not establish zero activity. DUC list: No stored records are available in this view; this does not establish zero activity. The lists have separate coverage limits.

Which Texas counties have the most Cotton Valley activity?

The primary counties recorded for Cotton Valley in Texas are Freestone, Smith, Limestone, Wood, Rusk. Summary: Stored source refresh: 2026-09-16. Permit list: No stored records are available in this view; this does not establish zero activity. DUC list: No stored records are available in this view; this does not establish zero activity. The lists have separate coverage limits.

How do I find out what my Cotton Valley 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. Summary: Stored source refresh: 2026-09-16. Permit list: No stored records are available in this view; this does not establish zero activity. DUC list: No stored records are available in this view; this does not establish zero activity. The lists have separate coverage limits.