RRC production statistics and allowables for January 2010

AUSTIN -- The Texas average rig count as of Dec. 18 was 476, representing about 42 percent of all active land rigs in the United States. In the last 12 months, total Texas reported production was 347 million barrels of oil and 7.7 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 October 2009 is 29,747,282 barrels of crude oil and 613,776,739 Mcf (thousand cubic feet) of gas well gas.

The Commission derives final production numbers by multiplying the preliminary October 2009 production totals of 27,881,978 barrels of crude oil and 516,082,350 Mcf of gas well gas by a production adjustment factor of 1.0669 for crude oil and 1.1893 for gas well gas. (These production totals do not include casinghead gas or condensate.)

Texas natural gas storage reported to the Commission for November 2009 was 477,065,385 Mcf compared to 348,221,621 Mcf in November 2008. The December 2009 gas storage estimate is 439,472,569 Mcf.

The Texas Railroad Commission’s Oil and Gas Division set initial January 2010 natural gas production allowables for prorated fields in the state to meet market demand of 15,853,895 Mcf (thousand cubic feet). In setting the initial January 2010 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 January 2010 is reported.