RRC production statistics and allowables for July 2009

AUSTIN -- The Texas average rig count as of June 19 was 329, representing about 40 percent of all active land rigs in the United States. In the last 12 months, total Texas reported production was 348 million barrels of oil and 7.5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Texas natural gas production represents approximately 29 percent of total U.S. natural gas demand.

The Commission’s estimated final production for April 2009 is 29,681,153 barrels of crude oil and 597,188,582 Mcf (thousand cubic feet) of gas well gas.

The Commission derives final production numbers by multiplying the preliminary April 2009 production totals of 27,569,341 barrels of crude oil and 494,648,043 Mcf of gas well gas by a production adjustment factor of 1.0766 for crude oil and 1.2073 for gas well gas. (These production totals do not include casinghead gas or condensate.)

Texas natural gas storage reported to the Commission for May 2009 was 373,779,147 Mcf compared to 281,668,767 Mcf in May 2008. The June 2009 gas storage estimate is 389,518,228 Mcf.

The Texas Railroad Commission’s Oil and Gas Division set initial July 2009 natural gas production allowables for prorated fields in the state to meet market demand of 17,866,778 Mcf (thousand cubic feet). In setting the initial July 2009 allowables, the Commission used historical production figures from previous months, producers’ demand forecasts for the coming month, and adjusted the figures based on well capability. These initial allowables will be adjusted after actual production for July 2009 is reported.