Every active oil and gas formation and play in Texas — Wolfcamp, Spraberry, Bone Spring, Eagle Ford, Austin Chalk, Haynesville, Barnett, and dozens more — ranked by well count, with the top operators and primary counties for each.
Refreshed monthly from TX RRC well records. Data current as of 2026-08-02.
Quick answer: The most-targeted oil and gas formations in Texas are the Permian Basin, Barnett, Gulf Coast Basin (La - TX), Austin Chalk and Thirty-One Carbonate-Chert, led by the Permian Basin with 253,454 wells on record. Ranked by well count across 33 tracked formations from Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) well-header records (as of 2026-08-02) and refreshed monthly.
As of 2026-08-02, the most-developed Texas formation is the Permian Basin with 253,454 wells on record, across 33 tracked formations, per Texas Railroad Commission well records.
Top Operators:
Oxy (22,669), Hilcorp Energy Company (11,566), Diamondback Energy (10,246), Pioneer Natural Resources (9,402), Bcemach Iii LLC (6,010), Crescent Energy Operating, LLC (4,967), Apache (4,547), Kinder Morgan Production (3,278), Burk Royalty (2,956), Cog Operating (2,801)
Primary counties: Andrews, Martin, Howard, Ector, Reagan
Top Operators:
Bkv Barnett LLC (4,283), Eagleridge Operating (3,917), Tep Barnett (2,727), Bkv North Texas LLC (2,085), Eog Resources (1,664), Basa Resources (1,390), Chesapeake Energy (1,284), Bkv Barnett Ii, LLC (1,116), Upp Operating LLC (1,102), Mitchell Energy (1,097)
Primary counties: Archer, Young, Jack, Shackelford, Wise
Top Operators:
Hilcorp Energy Company (3,982), Exxon Mobil (3,351), Eog Resources (1,529), Denbury Onshore (1,096), Radco Operations (965), Poandg Operating (932), Tc Oil Company (891), Highmark Energy Operating (869), Burlington Resources Oil & Gas Company (780), Marathon Oil Company (753)
Primary counties: Wharton, Harris, Jackson, Refugio, Hardin
Top Operators:
Eog Resources (3,788), Magnolia Oil & Gas Operating (2,070), Wildfire Energy Operating LLC (1,698), Javelin Energy (1,605), Marathon Oil Company (1,589), Ineos USA Oil & Gas LLC (1,440), Burlington Resources Oil & Gas Company (1,435), Great Plains Resources (1,313), Texas Petroleum Investment Company (1,245), Devon Energy Production Company (1,055)
Primary counties: Bexar, Caldwell, Atascosa, Guadalupe, Milam
Top Operators:
Pioneer Natural Resources (8,700), Two P Partners LLC (3,869), Formentera Operations LLC (3,477), Scout Energy Management (3,277), Blackbeard Operating (3,179), Kinder Morgan Production (2,735), Diamondback Energy (2,574), Hilcorp Energy Company (2,174), Cog Operating (1,850), Apache (1,820)
Primary counties: Upton, Crane, Ector, Pecos, Midland
Top Operators:
Basa Resources (6,766), Diversified Production LLC (2,110), Tgnr East Texas LLC (1,523), Tgnr East Texas Ii LLC (996), Linder John Operating (897), Brookston Energy (832), Xto Energy (824), Eqv Operating LLC (740), 4sight Operating Company (658), Chevron (614)
Primary counties: Gregg, Rusk, Panola, Harrison, Wood
Top Operators:
Large Operating LLC (3,014), Bcemach Iii LLC (1,894), Presidio Petroleum (1,524), Mmgl Txph LLC (1,451), Unbridled Resources LLC (1,200), Burk Royalty (1,135), Ponderosa TX Operating (915), D10 Energy LLC (621), Petco Energy CORP (556), Pantera Energy Company (508)
Primary counties: Hutchinson, Gray, Hemphill, Wheeler, Carson
Top Operators:
Waggoner Operating,LLC (3,802), R2q Operating (1,599), Burk Royalty (943), Johnson & Ernst Operating Company (718), Quatro Oil And Gas (592), S&G Oil (559), Bastrop Oil & Gas (558), Newport Operating (394), Stephens & Johnson Operating Company (386), Olenox CORP (333)
Primary counties: Wichita, Wilbarger, Hardeman, Foard, Hartley
Top Operators:
Upp Operating LLC (6,298), Scout Energy Management (2,625), Zarvona Energy (808), Red Stag Operating LLC (619), Hilcorp Energy Company (511), Discovery Natural Resources (500), Robert C Brower (459), Extex Operating Company (411), Dominion Oklahoma Texas E And P (396), Henry Petroleum (318)
Primary counties: Crockett, Sutton, Schleicher, Edwards, Terrell
Top Operators:
Anadarko Petroleum (1,510), Apache (1,048), Wpx Energy (1,034), Permian Resources Operating LLC (1,033), Eog Resources (772), Pdeh LLC (716), Jetta Operating Company (700), Chevron (572), Noble Energy (508), Echo Energy Partners, LLC (495)
Primary counties: Reeves, Loving, Ward, Culberson, Winkler
Top Operators:
Chittim Operating LLC (1,609), Javelin Energy (1,191), Marathon Oil Company (619), Crescent Energy Operating, LLC (427), Atlas Operating (409), Prime Energy Company (312), Burlington Resources Oil & Gas Company (245), Lewis Petro Properties (232), Hilcorp Energy Company (230), Sm Energy Company (178)
Primary counties: Dimmit, Duval, Goliad, Live Oak, Maverick
Top Operators:
Exxon Mobil (2,214), Merit Energy Company (1,535), Eog Resources (902), Hilcorp Energy Company (825), Sun Explorationproduction Company (598), Urban Oil & Gas Group (590), Sueann Operating LC (524), Mountain V Texas, LLC (288), Mobil Oil (264), Shell Oil Company (217)
Primary counties: Starr, Hidalgo, Nueces, Brooks, Kleberg
Top Operators:
Hilcorp Energy Company (2,717), Diversified Production LLC (1,956), Mmgl East Texas Ii, LLC (1,002), Basa Resources (966), Xto Energy (768), Faulconer Energy LLC (618), Valence Operating Company (528), Linder John Operating (301), Urban Oil & Gas Group (288), Exxon Mobil (283)
Primary counties: Freestone, Smith, Limestone, Wood, Rusk
Top Operators:
Lewis Petro Properties (2,551), Crescent Energy Operating, LLC (619), Varas Energy Operating Company, LLC (615), Hilcorp Energy Company (534), Bpx Operating Company (421), Eog Resources (394), Petrovybe Opco LLC (322), Marathon Oil Company (284), Ineos USA Oil & Gas LLC (241), Killam Oil (232)
Primary counties: Webb, Mcmullen, La Salle, Live Oak, Duval
Top Operators:
Corsicana Crude Company (553), Rife Oil Properties (497), J P Oil Company (472), Dry Creek Operating LLC (464), Exxon Mobil (428), Eastwest Energy (321), Adamas Energy LLC (218), Tgnr East Texas Ii LLC (197), Contour Energy (189), Sulphur River Exploration (162)
Primary counties: Navarro, Titus, Franklin, Falls, Wood
Top Operators:
Hilcorp Energy Company (3,095), Killam Oil (843), Conocophillips Company (494), Columbus Energy (454), Merit Energy Company (384), Mountain V Texas, LLC (274), Varas Energy Operating Company, LLC (247), Sueann Operating LC (232), Eog Resources (187), Chevron (184)
Primary counties: Webb, Zapata, Duval, Jim Hogg
Top Operators:
Burk Royalty (2,386), Pantera Energy Company (895), Snw Operating Company (709), Large Operating LLC (397), High River Resources Operating LLC (388), J W Resources (339), Phillips Petroleum Company (331), Conocophillips Company (223), Mewbourne Oil Company (196), D10 Energy LLC (183)
Primary counties: Moore, Potter, Sherman, Hutchinson, Hansford
Top Operators:
V & H Oil (702), Wfw Production Company (670), Felderhoff Production Company (526), Sydri Operating (448), Bls Production (355), Bkm Production (315), Silver Creek Oil & Gas (243), Mountain Creek Oil Company (222), Burk Royalty Company (199), Pyramid Enterprises (164)
Primary counties: Cooke, Grayson, Montague, Wichita, Collin
Top Operators:
Mewbourne Oil Company (800), Latigo Petroleum (794), Presidio Petroleum (555), Be Anadarko Ii LLC (433), Courson Oil & Gas (359), Unbridled Resources LLC (341), Highmark Energy Operating (320), Capturepoint LLC (221), Jones Energy (186), Diamond Chemicals Company (162)
Primary counties: Lipscomb, Ochiltree, Hansford, Hemphill, Nueces
Top Operators:
Basa Resources (714), Hd Operating CO, LLC (494), Wildfire Energy Operating LLC (341), Linder John Operating (284), Peles LLC (265), Caddo Energy (247), Highmark Energy Operating (204), Dg&E/Slocum (179), Union Oil Company Of California (168), Diversified Production LLC (149)
Primary counties: Anderson, Van Zandt, Cherokee, Robertson, Brazos
Top Operators:
Apache (489), Mcmoran Oil & Gas (307), White Fleet Operating LLC (285), Gom Shelf (242), Fieldwood Energy (230), W & T Offshore (174), Exxon Mobil (169), Black Elk Energy Offshore Operations (151), Talos Energy Offshore (150), Sabine Oil & Gas (145)
Primary counties: High Island South, High Island East & South, High Island Large Block, Matagorda Island Large Block, Galveston Large Block
Top Operators:
Peba Oil & Gas (928), R2q Operating (369), Hadley Oil Company (361), V & H Oil (317), Muirfield Exploration (298), Arch Operating (291), Mountain Creek Oil Company (256), Bridwell Oil Company (178), R & R Energy (156), Bkv Barnett LLC (111)
Primary counties: Montague, Clay, Denton, Jack, Wise
Top Operators:
Apache (244), Diamondback Energy (217), Durango Resources (212), Double Barrel Oil Company (147), Longfellow Energy (136), Xto Energy (104), Eog Resources (87), Stablerock Energy (75), Gordy Oil Company (73), Petrohunt Permian LLC (70)
Primary counties: Pecos, Reeves, Culberson, Ward, Val Verde
Top Operators:
Marathon Oil Company (510), Repsol Oil & Gas Canada (276), Pioneer Natural Resources (168), Blackbrush O & G (88), Capital Star Oil & Gas (87), Burlington Resources Oil & Gas Company (82), Devon Energy Production Company (81), Bpx Operating Company (81), Trio Consulting & Managementllc (54), Rusk Energy Operating (52)
Primary counties: Karnes, De Witt, Lavaca, Colorado, Bee
Top Operators:
Rigged Up, LLC (202), Waggoner Operating,LLC (96), Apex Resources (72), Stasney Well Service (68), Stephens & Johnson Operating Company (48), Texian Operating Company LLC (46), Basa Resources (44), Wt Waggoner Estate (43), Scott Operating (41), Schkade Production Company (41)
Primary counties: Shackelford, Archer, Baylor, Young, Stephens
Top Operators:
National Land Resources (151), 1859 Operating LLC (128), Thompsoncarlile Ventures (76), Dixie Energy (61), Wilson Roger B (49), Slick (40), Mixon Robert N (38), Snd Operating (37), Kiowa Oil & Gas (33), Bosque Oil Company (33)
Primary counties: Ellis, Red River, Mclennan, Medina, Hill
Top Operators:
Dallas Production (77), Somerset Operating, LLC (55), Upham Oil & Gas Company (48), Taylor Ben J (45), Arrowhead Production (44), Rkw Operating (38), Devon Energy Production Company (31), Mitchell Energy (29), Raw Energy (27), Eog Resources (25)
Primary counties: Parker, Palo Pinto, Jack
Top Operators:
Burk Royalty (87), Coterra Energy INC (75), Manzano (71), Hunt Cimarron (70), Q Natural Resources LLC (57), Capitan Energy Incorporated (56), Db Oil Company (31), Ring Energy (23), Team Operating LLC (23), Permian Resources Operating LLC (23)
Primary counties: Winkler, Culberson, Yoakum, Cochran, Reeves
Top Operators:
Felderhoff Production Company (63), Geosurveys (28), Sullivan Hollis R (23), Bruno Earl R (14), Aeternum Energy LLC (13), Bowerman Energy Company (12), B&B Aceite (10), Quaise Energy INC (10), Bowerman Oil & Gas (9), Sunbelt Oilfield Services (8)
Primary counties: Mcculloch, San Saba, Burnet, Gillespie, Blanco
Top Operators:
Tep Barnett (126), Sage Natural Resources (19), Gha Barnett (16), Quicksilver Resources (9), Eagleridge Operating (7), Chesapeake Energy (7), Upp Operating LLC (5), Bkv North Texas LLC (4), Morris R Greenhaw Oil&Gas (3), Delta Oil & Gas (2)
Primary counties: Tarrant, Johnson, Erath, Somervell, Wise
Top Operators:
Esco Oil Operating Company (22), Sabine Production Company (8), Dry Fork Production (8), Tyner Texas Operating Company (6), Bass Petroleum (5), West Texas Royalties (4), Apollo Energy Operating Company (3), Enre (3), Reo Operating (2), Chevron (2)
Primary counties: Motley, Floyd, Hale, Hall
Top Operators:
Riotex (17), Cashflow Exploration (7), C & C Energy Company (6), Sk & CO Oil & Gas Oper (5), Everest Minerals (5), Claro Operating (4), Gose Steve (3), Stokes King (3), Devon Energy Production Company (3), Mrt Exploration Company (3)
Primary counties: Kerr, Real, Bandera, Kendall
Top Operators:
Newfield Exploration Midcon (12), Machiiross Petroleum Company (8), Grace Oil (7), Texcan Resources (6), Winn Exploration (4), Windstar Resources (4), West Texas Gas (3), Cities Service Oil Company (2), Grace Exploration Company (1), Texas Pipeline (1)
Primary counties: Maverick
Source: Texas Railroad Commission well-header records, aggregated by primary play / interpreted formation / basin.
Threshold: Only formations with at least 50 wells are listed (excludes one-off wildcat plays).
Why it matters: Knowing which formation underlies your tract — and which operators are actively drilling that formation — is the foundation of mineral-rights valuation. Stacked-pay plays (Wolfcamp, Spraberry, Bone Spring) carry materially different upside than mature single-bench plays.
Refresh cadence: Monthly. Data current as of 2026-08-02.
Cite this dataset
Permanently archived and citable via a DOI on Zenodo (CERN), under a CC BY 4.0 license. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.21442884 · View on Zenodo
License & attribution: This data is licensed CC BY 4.0. You are free to share and adapt it, including commercially, provided you credit “Buckhead Energy” and link back to this page or the DOI above.
The most-developed formations and plays in Texas are the Permian Basin, Barnett, Gulf Coast Basin (La - TX), Austin Chalk and Thirty-One Carbonate-Chert, among others. This directory tracks 33 active formations ranked by well count, per Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) records.
The Permian Basin has the most wells on record in Texas — 253,454 wells, worked by 8,469 active operators, per TX RRC well-header data. This is a well-count ranking, not a reserves or value ranking.
The most active operators in the Permian Basin are Oxy, Hilcorp Energy Company, Diamondback Energy, Pioneer Natural Resources, Bcemach Iii LLC. Each formation card below lists its top operators by well count.
About 16,741 drilling permits were filed across the tracked Texas formations in the last 24 months, per TX RRC records — a rough measure of where new activity is concentrated.
Your deed and county records determine which formations your mineral rights cover; a tract can own multiple stacked formations. Buckhead Energy can check the geology under your tract against current well and permit data and put a free, no-obligation written offer in writing — this directory is informational only, not a valuation.
The geology under your tract drives your valuation. Get a free written offer based on your specific formation and county.
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State: Texas
Active formations: 33
Total wells: 1,010,632
Recent permits: 16,741
Last refresh: 2026-08-02
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