Texas Oil and Gas Output Slips in March 2026 as Wells Count Holds Above 240,000
AUSTIN — Texas crude oil and natural gas production edged lower in March 2026 compared with the same month a year ago, according to preliminary data released by the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC). The state’s oil wells — numbering 156,038 — produced roughly 132 million barrels of crude, while 84,395 gas wells yielded about 1.08 trillion cubic feet of total gas.
The March 2026 figures represent a decline from the revised totals for March 2025, when Texas pumped approximately 146 million barrels of oil and 1.12 trillion cubic feet of gas. The year-over-year drop — roughly 9.6% for oil and 3.6% for natural gas — comes amid moderate crude prices and lingering pipeline constraints in the Permian Basin, though analysts note that monthly swings are common and do not signal a structural downturn.
It is important to note that the RRC’s crude oil production figures are limited to oil produced from leases and do not include condensate, which is reported separately. The agency also cautions that preliminary data are subject to revision as additional reports come in from operators.
Despite the dip, Texas remains comfortably atop U.S. energy production rankings. The state’s combined well count of 240,433 continues to support the lion’s share of domestic output, and industry observers expect producers to maintain elevated activity levels through most of 2026, buoyed by steady demand for exports and refining.
For full state-level and county-by-county breakdowns, the RRC provides interactive tables and downloadable data at the links below:
This article first appeared in the Odessa American.