Regulators in several states are handling record numbers of drilling applications, reported the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission.
A recent IOGCC survey showed that 19 of 24 states surveyed reported increased applications, which are up by a total of 1,069 over the same period a year ago.
Nationally, permits in surveyed states totaled 23,093 to date this year, surpassing the 22,024 issued over the same period last year. The combined permit total represents a 4.7% hike from the year-to-date total from last year.
Most permits are for natural gas wells.
These numbers are supported by the findings of IHS Energy, which show onshore drilling permits in April up more than 31% compared with the same month a year ago. ✦
