Texas Drilling Permits Hold Steady in May 2026 as Oil and Gas Activity Remains Robust

The Railroad Commission of Texas reported 753 original drilling permits issued in May 2026, a figure that underscores sustained activity across the state’s oil and gas sector. Of those permits, 655 were for new oil or gas wells, 11 for re-entering plugged wellbores, 84 for re-completions, two for field transfers and one reclassification, the agency said in a release.

Breaking down the well types, the commission listed 151 oil wells, 73 gas wells, 475 combined oil-and-gas wells, 43 injection wells and 11 other permits. The combined category — representing wells targeting both oil and gas — accounted for roughly 63% of all new permits, reflecting the continued focus on multi-resource development in the Permian Basin and other producing regions.

On the completion side, commission staff processed 914 oil, 313 gas and 146 injection completions during May. The completion data provides a backward-looking snapshot of how many wells were brought into production, which can influence near-term supply expectations.

Industry analysts view the May figures as a sign of steady investment in Texas upstream operations, even as operators weigh oil price volatility and regulatory changes. The Railroad Commission, which oversees oil and gas drilling in the state, publishes detailed permit and completion reports monthly, with the full dataset available on its website.

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