From the Texas Railroad Commission, which regulates the oil & gas industry, except for the rig count, which is from Baker Hughes Inc. This is an annual average from monthly reports, except for the latest year, which is through June.
Wells drilled in years before 2019 are oil and gas well completions and dry holes drilled/plugged. Starting in 2019, only completions are counted.
Totals shown for 1988 and later are the number of drilling permits issued; data for previous years were the total drilling applications received.
Year | Rotary Rigs Active* | Permits | Oil Wells Completed** | Gas Wells Completed** |
2020 | 206 | 5,322 | 8,867 | 2,032 |
2019 | 463 | 11,654 | 7,046 | 1,753 |
2018 | 514 | 13,307 | 8,588 | 1,813 |
2017 | 456 | 12,600 | 5,394 | 1,022 |
2016 | 236 | 8,113 | 7,813 | 2,129 |
2015 | 430 | 10,549 | 15,578 | 2,787 |
2014 | 835 | 25,792 | 24,999 | 3,585 |
2013 | 835 | 21,471 | 19,249 | 4,917 |
2012 | 899 | 22.479 | 10,936 | 3,580 |
2011 | 838 | 22,480 | 5,380 | 3,008 |
2010 | 659 | 18,029 | 5,392 | 4,071 |
2009 | 432 | 12,212 | 5,860 | 8,706 |
2008 | 898 | 24,073 | 6,208 | 10,361 |
2007 | 834 | 19,994 | 5,084 | 8,643 |
2006 | 746 | 18,952 | 4,761 | 8,534 |
2005 | 614 | 16,914 | 3,454 | 7,197 |
2004 | 506 | 14,700 | 3,446 | 7,118 |
2003 | 449 | 12,664 | 3,111 | 6,336 |
2002 | 338 | 9,716 | 3,268 | 5,474 |
2001 | 462 | 12,227 | 3,082 | 5,787 |
2000 | 343 | 12,021 | 3,111 | 4,580 |
1999 | 226 | 8,430 | 2,049 | 3,566 |
1998 | 303 | 9,385 | 4,509 | 4,907 |
1997 | 358 | 13,933 | 4,482 | 4,594 |
1996 | 283 | 12,669 | 4,061 | 4,060 |
1995 | 251 | 11,244 | 4,334 | 3,778 |
1994 | 274 | 11,030 | 3,962 | 3,553 |
1993 | 264 | 11,612 | 4,646 | 3,295 |
1992 | 251 | 12,089 | 5,031 | 2,537 |
1991 | 315 | 12,494 | 6,025 | 2,755 |
1990 | 348 | 14,033 | 5,593 | 2,894 |
1989 | 264 | 12,756 | 4,914 | 2,760 |
1988 | 280 | 13,493 | 6,441 | 2,665 |
1987 | 293 | 15,297 | 7,327 | 2,542 |
1986 | 313 | 15,894 | 10,373 | 3,304 |
1985 | 680 | 30,878 | 16,543 | 4,605 |
1984 | 850 | 37,507 | 18,716 | 5,489 |
1983 | 796 | 45,550 | 15,941 | 5,027 |
1982 | 990 | 41,224 | 16,296 | 6,273 |
1981 | 1,318 | 47,940 | 15,627 | 5,454 |
1980 | 989 | 29,442 | 12,322 | 5,331 |
1979 | 770 | 29,241 | 8,487 | 5,319 |
1978 | 855 | 26,050 | 8,132 | 5,383 |
1977 | 778 | 25,189 | 8,121 | 4,399 |
1976 | 653 | 22,693 | 7,348 | 4,108 |
1975 | 638 | 20,293 | 7,004 | 3,396 |
1970 | 302 | 11,034 | 4,987 | 1,796 |
1965 | 425 | 14,227 | 7,207 | 2,383 |
1960 | 604 | 15,601 | 9,666 | 2,011 |