Best Counties in the Permian Basin for Oil & Gas 2026

March 12, 2026 • 7 min read

Not all Permian Basin acreage is created equal. Well performance, remaining inventory, infrastructure, and operator quality vary significantly across the basin. Here is a data-driven look at the best Permian Basin counties for oil and gas in 2026, based on well performance, drilling activity, and remaining inventory.

Tier 1 — The Core

These counties represent the absolute best geology and well economics in the Permian Basin. Operators prioritize drilling here before moving to less productive areas.

Midland County

The Midland Basin's namesake county remains a top-tier development area. Pioneer (now ExxonMobil), Diamondback, and other operators consistently post strong Wolfcamp and Spraberry results. 19,365 wells tracked on MineralSearch.

Martin County

Pioneer's home turf. Martin County's Spraberry Trend Area wells are among the most productive and most cost-effective in the basin. 15,472 wells tracked.

Reeves County

The Delaware Basin's crown jewel. Wolfcamp A and Bone Spring wells in Reeves County deliver excellent returns, and there is still significant remaining inventory. Major operators include Devon, Concho (ConocoPhillips), and Centennial (Permian Resources).

Loving County

The least populated county in Texas sits on some of the most valuable acreage. Core Delaware Basin Wolfcamp targets with excellent well performance. Fewer than 100 residents but billions of dollars in oil production.

Tier 2 — Core Extension

Howard County

Strong Midland Basin geology with active development from SM Energy, Diamondback, and Laredo (Vital Energy). 20,417 wells. Good Wolfcamp B and Spraberry results.

Upton County

Southern Midland Basin with excellent Wolfcamp thickness and pressure. Pioneer and Diamondback are dominant. 18,512 wells. Consistently among the top counties for new permit filings.

Ward County

Delaware Basin with strong Wolfcamp and Bone Spring targets. Oxy and XTO are major operators. 16,227 wells with solid remaining inventory.

Glasscock County

Small population, big production. Core Midland Basin Wolfcamp and Spraberry targets. Pioneer and Diamondback are active. Some of the best per-well economics in the basin.

Tier 3 — Strong Supporting Counties

These counties have good geology and active drilling programs but may not match the per-well economics of Tier 1 and 2:

• Reagan County — Southern Midland Basin, 16,049 wells
• Pecos County — Delaware Basin + Sheffield Channel, 20,329 wells
• Crane County — Central Basin Platform, 17,523 wells
• Ector County — Legacy production + new horizontal development, 31,387 wells
• Andrews County — Central Basin Platform + Midland Basin edge, 34,609 wells

What Makes a County "Good"?

When evaluating Permian Basin counties, consider these factors:

• Well performance — Average IP rates and EURs by formation and lateral length
• Remaining inventory — How many undrilled locations remain at economic spacing
• Infrastructure — Pipeline access, water sourcing and disposal, road quality
• Operator quality — Counties with top-tier operators tend to have better-managed development programs
• Stacked pay — Multiple target formations increase the total resource per acre