30,836 wells across 1,841 recorded operators, with 134 drilling permits filed in the 24-month window at source refresh.
Daily refresh scheduled from TX RRC well-header records. Stored source refresh: 2026-09-16.
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: Stored source refresh: 2026-09-17. 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: Stored source refresh: 2026-09-16. 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.
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.
Stored source refresh: 2026-09-17. 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.
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.
Stored source refresh: 2026-09-16. 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.
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.
Quick answer: The Palo Duro Basin formation in Texas has 30,836 wells on record across 1,841 recorded operators, with 134 drilling permits filed in the 24-month window at source refresh. Its operators with the most wells on record are Waggoner Operating,LLC, R2q Operating, Burk Royalty, Johnson & Ernst Operating Company and Quatro Oil And Gas. Compiled from Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) well-header records. Summary: Stored source refresh: 2026-09-16. Permit list: Stored source refresh: 2026-09-17. DUC list: Stored source refresh: 2026-09-16. The lists have separate coverage limits.
The operators with the most well counts targeting the Palo Duro Basin formation in Texas:
| # | Operator | Wells in Palo Duro Basin |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waggoner Operating,LLC | 3,770 |
| 2 | R2q Operating | 1,599 |
| 3 | Burk Royalty | 943 |
| 4 | Johnson & Ernst Operating Company | 718 |
| 5 | Quatro Oil And Gas | 592 |
| 6 | S&G Oil | 559 |
| 7 | Bastrop Oil & Gas | 558 |
| 8 | Newport Operating | 393 |
| 9 | Stephens & Johnson Operating Company | 386 |
| 10 | Olenox CORP | 333 |
The Texas counties with the most Palo Duro Basin activity:
Wichita, Wilbarger, Hardeman, Foard, Hartley
The most recent 7 drilling permits filed for Palo Duro Basin wells in Texas:
| Permit Date | Well | API | County | Operator | Lateral (ft) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-18 | Holbrook 1 | 4219731814 |
Hardeman | Trio Consulting Managementllc | — |
| 2026-06-02 | Sb1-Mp 187.432 1 | 4248546431 |
Wichita | Enterprise Products Operatingllc | — |
| 2025-09-23 | Bond B 18b | 4248733392 |
Wilbarger | L7 Energy LLC | 1,515 |
| 2025-08-11 | Slc Ramming 74 | 4248544588 |
Wichita | Stone Gregory W | 103 |
| 2025-05-30 | Turner Unit 1 | 4219731807 |
Hardeman | Ampak Oil Company | 368 |
| 2025-04-22 | Sb-1 1 | 4208730262 |
Collingsworth | Enterprise Products Operatingllc | 118 |
| 2024-10-14 | Cardinal 1 | 4219731812 |
Hardeman | Trio Consulting Managementllc | 111 |
Wells targeting the Palo Duro Basin that have been spudded but are waiting on completion — near-term production upside:
| Spud Date | Days Since Spud | Well | Operator | County | Lateral (ft) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-24 | 22 | Throckmorton 1 | Kodiak Oil & Gas | Wichita | — |
| 2026-06-05 | 102 | Holbrook 1 | Trio Consulting & Managementllc | Hardeman | — |
| 2026-05-19 | 119 | Gillis, Bruce 21b | Bonfire Operating | Wichita | — |
| 2026-05-13 | 125 | Gillis, Bruce 20b | Bonfire Operating | Wichita | — |
| 2026-04-17 | 151 | Sauder A 9 | R2q Operating | Wichita | 108 |
| 2026-04-01 | 167 | Gotcha 1 | Burk Royalty | Wilbarger | 109 |
| 2026-03-09 | 190 | Bivins West 1701 | Sunlight Exploration | Oldham | 134 |
The Palo Duro Basin is a formation/play group recorded in Texas, with 30,836 wells on file across 1,841 distinct operators of record. Operators have filed 134 drilling permits targeting the Palo Duro 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 Texas oil & gas formations & plays · Download the Texas formations dataset (CSV)
30,836 wells target the Palo Duro Basin in Texas, worked by 1,841 recorded operators, per TX RRC well-header records. Summary: Stored source refresh: 2026-09-16. Permit list: Stored source refresh: 2026-09-17. DUC list: Stored source refresh: 2026-09-16. The lists have separate coverage limits.
By well count, the operators with the most Palo Duro Basin wells on record in Texas are Waggoner Operating,LLC, R2q Operating, Burk Royalty, Johnson & Ernst Operating Company and Quatro Oil And Gas. The full ranking is in the table on this page. Summary: Stored source refresh: 2026-09-16. Permit list: Stored source refresh: 2026-09-17. DUC list: Stored source refresh: 2026-09-16. The lists have separate coverage limits.
Operators filed 134 drilling permits targeting the Palo Duro Basin in the 24-month window at source refresh, alongside 7 records in the displayed DUC list, per TX RRC records. Summary: Stored source refresh: 2026-09-16. Permit list: Stored source refresh: 2026-09-17. DUC list: Stored source refresh: 2026-09-16. The lists have separate coverage limits.
Operators filed 134 new drilling permits targeting the Palo Duro Basin in Texas in the 24-month window at source refresh, with 7 records in the displayed DUC list. 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: Stored source refresh: 2026-09-17. DUC list: Stored source refresh: 2026-09-16. The lists have separate coverage limits.
Palo Duro Basin activity in Texas includes 30,836 wells on record and 1,841 recorded operators, led by Waggoner Operating,LLC, R2q Operating, Burk Royalty, Johnson & Ernst Operating Company and Quatro Oil And Gas, with 134 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: Stored source refresh: 2026-09-17. DUC list: Stored source refresh: 2026-09-16. The lists have separate coverage limits.
The primary counties recorded for Palo Duro Basin in Texas are Wichita, Wilbarger, Hardeman, Foard, Hartley. Summary: Stored source refresh: 2026-09-16. Permit list: Stored source refresh: 2026-09-17. DUC list: Stored source refresh: 2026-09-16. The lists have separate coverage limits.
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: Stored source refresh: 2026-09-17. DUC list: Stored source refresh: 2026-09-16. The lists have separate coverage limits.
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Formation: Palo Duro Basin
State: Texas
Total wells: 30,836
Recorded operators: 1,841
Permits 24mo: 134
Last refresh: 2026-09-16