◆Draft preview.
We're still finalizing how we count (details). The data
itself is real, from the RRC's public records, but some numbers could shift
a little once the counting rules are locked in.
Where Texas is permitting: 2026Q3
Original drilling permits by county, shown as the change since 2026Q2. Hover over a county to see its numbers. Click one to compare its most active operators.
← 2026Q2 · 2026Q3 permit counts · change vs prior quarter
≤−30
−29…−10
−9…−1
0
+1…+9
+10…+29
+30 and up
33 counties had at least one permit approved in 2026Q3.
Table view: every county with activity (146)
| County | 2026Q2 | 2026Q3 | Δ | Top operators (2026Q3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UPTON (461) | 119 | 21 | -98 | CHEVRON U. S. A. INC. (13) · SUMMIT PETROLEUM LLC (8) |
| MIDLAND (329) | 221 | 17 | -204 | PIONEER NATURAL RES. USA, INC. (13) · DIAMONDBACK E&P LLC (4) |
| REEVES (389) | 106 | 16 | -90 | ANADARKO E&P ONSHORE LLC (6) · VTX ENERGY OPERATING, LLC (6) · GREENLAKE ENERGY OPERATING, LLC (4) |
| ANDREWS (3) | 49 | 8 | -41 | COG OPERATING LLC (8) |
| REAGAN (383) | 64 | 7 | -57 | BLACK SWAN OPCO, LLC (7) |
| WINKLER (495) | 35 | 7 | -28 | CONTINENTAL RESOURCES, INC. (4) · BLACKBEARD OPERATING, LLC (2) · BASIN OIL & GAS OPERATING, LLC (1) |
| ECTOR (135) | 9 | 6 | -3 | FIREBIRD ENERGY II LLC (6) |
| PANOLA (365) | 23 | 5 | -18 | TGNR PANOLA LLC (4) · BUFFCO PRODUCTION INC. (1) |
| MCMULLEN (311) | 24 | 4 | -20 | EOG RESOURCES, INC. (4) |
| WILBARGER (487) | 5 | 4 | -1 | BURK ROYALTY CO., LTD. (4) |
| ARCHER (9) | 20 | 3 | -17 | EAGLE OIL & GAS CO. (1) · GUIDANCE OIL DEVELOPERS,INC.(1) (1) · WILCOX ENERGY COMPANY LLC (1) |
| GLASSCOCK (173) | 84 | 3 | -81 | BLACK SWAN OPCO, LLC (3) |
| YOAKUM (501) | 23 | 3 | -20 | BURK ROYALTY CO., LTD. (2) · OCCIDENTAL PERMIAN LTD. (1) |
| BURLESON (51) | 6 | 2 | -4 | WILDFIRE ENERGY OPERATING LLC (2) |
| FREESTONE (161) | 5 | 2 | -3 | HILCORP ENERGY COMPANY (2) |
| JASPER (241) | 2 | 2 | +0 | WHITEHEAD RESOURCES, LTD. (2) |
| KARNES (255) | 55 | 2 | -53 | BURLINGTON RESOURCES O & G CO LP (2) |
| LEE (287) | 5 | 2 | -3 | SAGE NATURAL RESOURCES LLC (2) |
| LOVING (301) | 127 | 2 | -125 | WES WATER HOLDINGS LLC (1) · WPX ENERGY PERMIAN, LLC (1) |
| MORRIS (343) | 2 | 2 | +0 | ROSE CITY RESOURCES, LLC (2) |
| SHACKELFORD (417) | 9 | 2 | -7 | STASNEY WELL SERVICE, LLC (2) |
| WARD (475) | 50 | 2 | -48 | PITTS ENERGY CO. (2) |
| BORDEN (33) | 17 | 1 | -16 | YUKON EXPLORATION OPERATING, LLC (1) |
| CALDWELL (55) | 2 | 1 | -1 | HAMILTON, CLAY (1) |
| CASS (67) | 4 | 1 | -3 | ROSE CITY RESOURCES, LLC (1) |
| COOKE (97) | 7 | 1 | -6 | ATOKA ENERGY LLC (1) |
| DE WITT (123) | 47 | 1 | -46 | MARATHON OIL EF LLC (1) |
| GALVESTON (167) | 1 | 1 | +0 | FRIO RESOURCES, LLC (1) |
| HARRISON (203) | 31 | 1 | -30 | BUFFCO PRODUCTION INC. (1) |
| JEFFERSON (245) | 3 | 1 | -2 | GOLDEN TRIANGLE STORAGE, LLC (1) |
| PECOS (371) | 51 | 1 | -50 | KINDER MORGAN PRODUCTION CO LLC (1) |
| WILSON (493) | 8 | 1 | -7 | PALOMA OPERATING, LLC (1) |
| WISE (497) | 6 | 1 | -5 | BKV NORTH TEXAS, LLC (1) |
| ANDERSON (1) | 3 | 0 | -3 | |
| ARANSAS (7) | 3 | 0 | -3 | |
| ATASCOSA (13) | 24 | 0 | -24 | |
| BAYLOR (23) | 15 | 0 | -15 | |
| BEE (25) | 3 | 0 | -3 | |
| BEXAR (29) | 1 | 0 | -1 | |
| BRAZORIA (39) | 10 | 0 | -10 | |
| BRAZOS (41) | 1 | 0 | -1 | |
| BROOKS (47) | 1 | 0 | -1 | |
| CALHOUN (57) | 1 | 0 | -1 | |
| CALLAHAN (59) | 2 | 0 | -2 | |
| CAMERON (61) | 1 | 0 | -1 | |
| CHAMBERS (71) | 1 | 0 | -1 | |
| CHEROKEE (73) | 4 | 0 | -4 | |
| CLAY (77) | 8 | 0 | -8 | |
| CRANE (103) | 50 | 0 | -50 | |
| CROCKETT (105) | 1 | 0 | -1 | |
| CULBERSON (109) | 26 | 0 | -26 | |
| DAWSON (115) | 25 | 0 | -25 | |
| DENTON (121) | 2 | 0 | -2 | |
| DICKENS (125) | 4 | 0 | -4 | |
| DIMMIT (127) | 45 | 0 | -45 | |
| DUVAL (131) | 3 | 0 | -3 | |
| EASTLAND (133) | 1 | 0 | -1 | |
| FALLS (145) | 1 | 0 | -1 | |
| FAYETTE (149) | 2 | 0 | -2 | |
| FISHER (151) | 3 | 0 | -3 | |
| FRANKLIN (159) | 3 | 0 | -3 | |
| FRIO (163) | 22 | 0 | -22 | |
| GAINES (165) | 71 | 0 | -71 | |
| GARZA (169) | 1 | 0 | -1 | |
| GOLIAD (175) | 3 | 0 | -3 | |
| GONZALES (177) | 22 | 0 | -22 | |
| GRAYSON (181) | 1 | 0 | -1 | |
| GREGG (183) | 2 | 0 | -2 | |
| GUADALUPE (187) | 2 | 0 | -2 | |
| HALE (189) | 3 | 0 | -3 | |
| HARDEMAN (197) | 1 | 0 | -1 | |
| HARDIN (199) | 2 | 0 | -2 | |
| HARTLEY (205) | 1 | 0 | -1 | |
| HASKELL (207) | 2 | 0 | -2 | |
| HEMPHILL (211) | 1 | 0 | -1 | |
| HIDALGO (215) | 1 | 0 | -1 | |
| HOCKLEY (219) | 7 | 0 | -7 | |
| HOPKINS (223) | 1 | 0 | -1 | |
| HOUSTON (225) | 5 | 0 | -5 | |
| HOWARD (227) | 39 | 0 | -39 | |
| IRION (235) | 35 | 0 | -35 | |
| JACK (237) | 10 | 0 | -10 | |
| JIM WELLS (249) | 1 | 0 | -1 | |
| JOHNSON (251) | 1 | 0 | -1 | |
| JONES (253) | 5 | 0 | -5 | |
| KAUFMAN (257) | 2 | 0 | -2 | |
| KENEDY (261) | 1 | 0 | -1 | |
| KENT (263) | 7 | 0 | -7 | |
| KING (269) | 5 | 0 | -5 | |
| KNOX (275) | 1 | 0 | -1 | |
| LA SALLE (283) | 45 | 0 | -45 | |
| LAVACA (285) | 8 | 0 | -8 | |
| LEON (289) | 11 | 0 | -11 | |
| LIBERTY (291) | 2 | 0 | -2 | |
| LIMESTONE (293) | 4 | 0 | -4 | |
| LIPSCOMB (295) | 3 | 0 | -3 | |
| LIVE OAK (297) | 18 | 0 | -18 | |
| LUBBOCK (303) | 2 | 0 | -2 | |
| MCCULLOCH (307) | 1 | 0 | -1 | |
| MCLENNAN (309) | 1 | 0 | -1 | |
| MADISON (313) | 4 | 0 | -4 | |
| MARION (315) | 2 | 0 | -2 | |
| MARTIN (317) | 134 | 0 | -134 | |
| MAVERICK (323) | 16 | 0 | -16 | |
| MEDINA (325) | 4 | 0 | -4 | |
| MITCHELL (335) | 6 | 0 | -6 | |
| MOORE (341) | 5 | 0 | -5 | |
| MOTLEY (345) | 2 | 0 | -2 | |
| NACOGDOCHES (347) | 9 | 0 | -9 | |
| NAVARRO (349) | 1 | 0 | -1 | |
| NOLAN (353) | 6 | 0 | -6 | |
| NUECES (355) | 1 | 0 | -1 | |
| OCHILTREE (357) | 4 | 0 | -4 | |
| POTTER (375) | 1 | 0 | -1 | |
| RED RIVER (387) | 1 | 0 | -1 | |
| REFUGIO (391) | 10 | 0 | -10 | |
| ROBERTS (393) | 3 | 0 | -3 | |
| ROBERTSON (395) | 12 | 0 | -12 | |
| RUNNELS (399) | 1 | 0 | -1 | |
| RUSK (401) | 12 | 0 | -12 | |
| SAN AUGUSTINE (405) | 41 | 0 | -41 | |
| SCHLEICHER (413) | 1 | 0 | -1 | |
| SCURRY (415) | 17 | 0 | -17 | |
| SHELBY (419) | 8 | 0 | -8 | |
| SHERMAN (421) | 1 | 0 | -1 | |
| SMITH (423) | 1 | 0 | -1 | |
| STARR (427) | 1 | 0 | -1 | |
| STEPHENS (429) | 1 | 0 | -1 | |
| STERLING (431) | 1 | 0 | -1 | |
| STONEWALL (433) | 1 | 0 | -1 | |
| TARRANT (439) | 5 | 0 | -5 | |
| TAYLOR (441) | 11 | 0 | -11 | |
| TERRELL (443) | 1 | 0 | -1 | |
| TERRY (445) | 6 | 0 | -6 | |
| THROCKMORTON (447) | 5 | 0 | -5 | |
| TOM GREEN (451) | 3 | 0 | -3 | |
| TRINITY (455) | 1 | 0 | -1 | |
| TYLER (457) | 3 | 0 | -3 | |
| VAN ZANDT (467) | 4 | 0 | -4 | |
| WASHINGTON (477) | 8 | 0 | -8 | |
| WEBB (479) | 57 | 0 | -57 | |
| WHARTON (481) | 3 | 0 | -3 | |
| WICHITA (485) | 8 | 0 | -8 | |
| WOOD (499) | 6 | 0 | -6 | |
| YOUNG (503) | 3 | 0 | -3 | |
| ZAVALA (507) | 9 | 0 | -9 |