RRC production statistics and allowables for September 2009

AUSTIN -- The Texas average rig count as of July 17 was 355, representing about 38 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 7.6 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 June 2009 is 28,639,273 barrels of crude oil and 582,813,404 Mcf (thousand cubic feet) of gas well gas.

The Commission derives final production numbers by multiplying the preliminary June 2009 production totals of 26,790,714 barrels of crude oil and 492,865,458 Mcf of gas well gas by a production adjustment factor of 1.0690 for crude oil and 1.1825 for gas well gas. (These production totals do not include casinghead gas or condensate.)

Texas natural gas storage reported to the Commission for July 2009 was 419,455,991 Mcf compared to 268,700,721 Mcf in July 2008. The August 2009 gas storage estimate is 422,557,593 Mcf.

The Texas Railroad Commission’s Oil and Gas Division set initial September 2009 natural gas production allowables for prorated fields in the state to meet market demand of 15,452,320 Mcf (thousand cubic feet). In setting the initial September 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 September 2009 is reported.