Permian Basin Well Data — Where to Find It and How to Use It

February 1, 2026 • 7 min read

The Permian Basin is the most active oil-producing region in the world. Spanning West Texas and Southeast New Mexico, it accounts for over 40% of total U.S. oil production. Whether you are a landman, mineral owner, or analyst, finding reliable well data for the Permian Basin is essential. Here is where to look and what to do with it.

Understanding the Permian Basin's Geography

The Permian Basin is not one homogeneous area. It contains several distinct sub-basins and geological features:

• Midland Basin — The eastern sub-basin, centered on Midland and Martin counties. Key targets include the Wolfcamp and Spraberry formations. This is Pioneer, Diamondback, and SM Energy territory.
• Delaware Basin — The western sub-basin, covering Reeves, Loving, Ward, and Pecos counties (Texas) and Lea and Eddy counties (New Mexico). Wolfcamp and Bone Spring are the primary targets. Devon, Apache, and Centennial are major operators.
• Central Basin Platform — The structural high between the two basins, running through Andrews, Ector, and Crane counties. Legacy San Andres and Clearfork production, with Occidental as the dominant operator.

Understanding which sub-basin a well is in matters because the geology, operators, and economics differ significantly. A Wolfcamp well in the Delaware Basin is a fundamentally different asset than a Wolfcamp well in the Midland Basin. For a deeper comparison, see our article on Midland Basin vs Delaware Basin differences.

Texas Railroad Commission Data

For the Texas side of the Permian Basin, the primary data source is the Texas Railroad Commission. The RRC maintains records on every well drilled in Texas, including:

• Well headers with API numbers, operators, and locations
• Monthly production data (oil, gas, water)
• Drilling permits (W-1 forms)
• Completion reports (W-2 forms) with perforation data and IP rates

For a detailed walkthrough of RRC data access, see our complete RRC data guide.

New Mexico OCD Data

For the New Mexico portion of the Permian Basin — primarily Lea and Eddy counties — the equivalent agency is the New Mexico Oil Conservation Division (OCD). Their data is available through the OCD Imaging System and includes well headers, production data, and completion reports. The OCD's data system is functional but less user-friendly than what most people are accustomed to.

Key Permian Basin Counties by Well Count

The top Texas Permian Basin counties by total well count on MineralSearch:

• Andrews County — 34,609 wells
• Ector County — 31,387 wells
• Midland County — 19,365 wells
• Howard County — 20,417 wells
• Pecos County — 20,329 wells
• Upton County — 18,512 wells

What to Look for in Permian Basin Well Data

When evaluating Permian Basin wells, pay attention to:

• Lateral length — Modern horizontals range from 1 to 3 miles. Longer laterals generally produce more but cost more.
• Target formation and bench — Wolfcamp A, Wolfcamp B, Lower Spraberry, and Bone Spring each have different characteristics.
• Initial production (IP) rates — IP30 and IP90 (average daily production over the first 30 or 90 days) are common benchmarks.
• Spacing — How many wells per section. Over-spaced wells underperform; under-spaced areas leave money in the ground. See our guide on spacing units in Texas.
• Decline curves — Permian horizontal wells have steep initial decline rates (60-70% first-year decline is typical). Understanding decline curve analysis is critical for valuation.