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Midland Basin Data, History & Stats
This guide provides information about the Midland Basin, oil and gas data, history, top operators, and other facts.
Overview
Midland Basin Oil and Gas
The Midland Basin is part of the larger Permian Basin, the most prolific oil-producing region in the United States.
The Midland Basin played a pivotal role in revolutionizing the oil and gas industry through the widespread adoption of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing.
Midland Basin: Subbasin of the largest oil-producing region in the US.
The region has been producing for nearly a century and still contains massive resources of oil and gas. In April of 2022, The Permian Basin accounted for 43.6% of oil production within the U.S. and nearly 15% of gas production.Â
What is the Midland Basin?
The Midland Basin, the eastern sub-basin of the Permian Basin, is a major oil and natural gas producing region located in West Texas, USA.
Spanning an extensive area of approximately 20,000 square miles (52,000 square kilometers), the Midland Basin is bounded by the Central Basin Platform to the west. Its geological richness and significant hydrocarbon resources have made it a focal point of exploration and production activities.
Horizontal Rig Count
The Midland Basin: History, Data and Facts
The Midland Basin, nestled within the vast expanse of the Permian Basin, boasts a geological heritage that spans millions of years. Shaped by ancient seas, tectonic forces, and sedimentary processes, the basin is a testament to the Earth’s dynamic history.
This region in West Texas and southeastern New Mexico has emerged as a powerhouse in the United States energy landscape. With abundant reserves of oil and natural gas, the Midland Basin has become a focal point of exploration and production activities, fostering economic growth and securing the nation’s energy future.
When and how did it start?
The Midland Basin has a notable history of oil exploration and production, dating back to the early 1900s. However, it was the application of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing in the 21st century that transformed the subbasin’s oil industry.
The discovery and development of the Wolfcamp Formation, part of the Permian-aged rocks, unleashed an oil boom of unprecedented proportions. The Wolfcamp’s vast oil reserves, estimated to hold billions of barrels, have made the Midland Basin a leading oil-producing region in the United States. As a result, the basin has consistently contributed a significant portion of the nation’s daily oil production, bolstering the country’s energy security and fostering economic growth.
Top 20 counties [March 2013 - March 2023]
| Ranking | County | Horizontal Well Count - March 2023 | Daily Production (bo/d) - March 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Midland (TX) | 4.683 | 605.447 |
| 2 | Martin (TX) | 3.616 | 538.365 |
| 3 | Howard (TX) | 2.584 | 354.811 |
| 4 | Upton | 2.066 | 251.283 |
| 5 | Glasscock | 1.522 | 158.222 |
| 6 | Reagan | 2.108 | 135.052 |
| 7 | Andrews | 535 | 101.396 |
| 8 | Borden | 183 | 26.746 |
| 9 | Irion | 915 | 23.417 |
| 10 | Ector | 152 | 16.739 |
| 11 | Crockett (TX) | 649 | 7.053 |
| 12 | Dawson (TX) | 53 | 5.367 |
| 13 | Gaines | 16 | 267 |
| 14 | Sterling | 11 | 201 |
| 15 | Schleicher | 32 | 72 |
| 16 | Terry | 11 | 72 |
| 17 | Tom Green | 5 | 71 |
| 18 | Garza | 9 | 34 |
| 19 | Yoakum | 1 | 31 |
| 20 | Lynn | 3 | 11 |
Top 50 oil operators [March 2013 - March 2023]
| Ranking | Operator | Horizontal Well Count - March 2023 | Daily Production (Bo/d) - March 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pioneer Natural Resources | 3,713 | 499,377 |
| 2 | Diamondback | 2,082 | 248,351 |
| 3 | Endeavor Energy | 1,085 | 209,548 |
| 4 | Ovintiv | 995 | 134,197 |
| 5 | ConocoPhillips | 1,069 | 131,780 |
| 6 | Exxon Mobil | 1,085 | 124,813 |
| 7 | Birch Resources | 359 | 97,061 |
| 8 | Crownquest | 635 | 86,076 |
| 9 | SM Energy | 557 | 65,738 |
| 10 | Chevron | 441 | 65,499 |
| 11 | Vital Energy | 790 | 61,971 |
| 12 | Surge Energy | 587 | 48,554 |
| 13 | Occidental | 454 | 46,472 |
| 14 | Highpeak Energy | 189 | 43,902 |
| 15 | Apache | 726 | 42,053 |
| 16 | Civitas Resources | 129 | 40,191 |
| 17 | Earthstone Energy | 947 | 29,001 |
| 18 | Summit Petroleum | 134 | 21,411 |
| 19 | Callon | 268 | 19,427 |
| 20 | Vencer Energy | 282 | 19,048 |
| 21 | Fasken Oil | 88 | 18,477 |
| 22 | Henry Resources | 102 | 16,356 |
| 23 | Sequitur Energy Resources | 425 | 14,424 |
| 24 | TRP Energy | 48 | 14,154 |
| 25 | Bayswater | 70 | 13,406 |
| 26 | Discovery Operating | 65 | 12,979 |
| 27 | Triple Crown Resources | 169 | 11,723 |
| 28 | Permian Deep Rock | 68 | 10,966 |
| 29 | Double Eagle Energy IV | 16 | 10,924 |
| 30 | RP Operating | 37 | 9,010 |
| 31 | Discovery Natural Resources | 185 | 7,319 |
| 32 | Revenir Energy | 78 | 6,227 |
| 33 | Murchison Oil & Gas | 49 | 4,733 |
| 34 | MCM | 6 | 4,278 |
| 35 | RRP Operating | 390 | 4,083 |
| 36 | BTA Oil | 33 | 3,639 |
| 37 | Element Petroleum III | 30 | 3,497 |
| 38 | Sinclair Oil & Gas | 10 | 3,179 |
| 39 | Maverick Natural Resources | 10 | 3,171 |
| 40 | Zarvona Energy | 274 | 2,921 |
| 41 | Cutbow Operating | 6 | 2,699 |
| 42 | Reliance | 13 | 2,094 |
| 43 | Hannathon Petroleum II | 156 | 1,834 |
| 44 | Mewbourne Oil | 10 | 1,158 |
| 45 | Circle-S Energy | 13 | 1,035 |
| 46 | Oxbow Petroleum | 3 | 683 |
| 47 | Slant Operating | 10 | 577 |
| 48 | Pinon Resources | 7 | 496 |
| 49 | Winn Operating | 30 | 344 |
| 50 | Spirit O&G | 18 | 324 |
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The Midland Gas Production
When and how did it start?
While the Midland Basin is renowned for its oil production, it also boasts substantial reserves of natural gas.
The exploitation of natural gas resources gained momentum alongside the advancements in horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, as associated gas is produced alongisde the oil. As a result, the basin has witnessed a significant increase in natural gas production, contributing to the country’s natural gas supply.Â
Gas production over the last 10 years
Top 20 counties [March 2013 - March 2023]
| Ranking | County | Horizontal Well Count - March 2023 | Daily Production (Mcf/d) - March 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Midland (TX) | 4,688 | 2.148,969 |
| 2 | Martin (TX) | 3,611 | 1.365,106 |
| 3 | Upton | 2,063 | 995,381 |
| 4 | Reagan | 2,108 | 949,809 |
| 5 | Howard (TX) | 2,586 | 870,887 |
| 6 | Glasscock | 1,523 | 666,114 |
| 7 | Tom Green | 5 | 516 |
| 8 | Irion | 914 | 347,031 |
| 9 | Andrews | 534 | 178,085 |
| 10 | Sterling | 11 | 165 |
| 11 | Crockett (TX) | 652 | 123,033 |
| 12 | Mitchell (TX) | 2 | 70 |
| 13 | Gaines | 16 | 53 |
| 14 | Ector | 151 | 29,142 |
| 15 | Borden | 182 | 23,711 |
| 16 | Dawson (TX) | 53 | 3,679 |
| 17 | Schleicher | 32 | 2,632 |
| 18 | Terry | 11 | 2 |
| 19 | Garza | 9 | 1 |
| 20 | Lynn | 3 | 0 |
Top 50 natural gas operators [March 2013 - March 2023]
| Ranking | Operator | Horizontal Well Count - March 2023 | Daily Production (Mcf/d) - March 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pioneer Natural Resources | 3,713 | 1.771,076 |
| 2 | Diamondback | 2,082 | 694,200 |
| 3 | Exxon Mobil | 1,085 | 628,803 |
| 4 | Endeavor Energy | 1,085 | 603,042 |
| 5 | ConocoPhillips | 1,069 | 404,076 |
| 6 | Ovintiv | 995 | 355,916 |
| 7 | Crownquest | 635 | 345,425 |
| 8 | Vital Energy | 790 | 336,525 |
| 9 | Earthstone Energy | 947 | 296,277 |
| 10 | SM Energy | 557 | 230,130 |
| 11 | Birch Resources | 359 | 226,092 |
| 12 | Apache | 726 | 224,316 |
| 13 | Chevron | 441 | 172,003 |
| 14 | Sequitur Energy Resources | 425 | 145,275 |
| 15 | Occidental | 454 | 141,823 |
| 16 | Surge Energy | 587 | 129,690 |
| 17 | Vencer Energy | 282 | 124,651 |
| 18 | Civitas Resources | 129 | 107,833 |
| 19 | Discovery Natural Resources | 185 | 77,165 |
| 20 | RRP Operating | 390 | 77,015 |
| 21 | Triple Crown Resources | 169 | 71,611 |
| 22 | Summit Petroleum | 134 | 66,930 |
| 23 | Callon | 268 | 55,422 |
| 24 | Henry Resources | 102 | 49,802 |
| 25 | Hannathon Petroleum II | 156 | 42,571 |
| 26 | Highpeak Energy | 189 | 41,294 |
| 27 | Zarvona Energy | 274 | 38,879 |
| 28 | Permian Deep Rock | 68 | 28,132 |
| 29 | Fasken Oil | 88 | 27,051 |
| 30 | TRP Energy | 48 | 26,754 |
| 31 | Discovery Operating | 65 | 23,500 |
| 32 | Bayswater | 70 | 23,033 |
| 33 | Revenir Energy | 78 | 17,724 |
| 34 | Double Eagle Energy IV | 16 | 13,794 |
| 35 | BTA Oil | 33 | 12,741 |
| 36 | Circle-S Energy | 13 | 10,834 |
| 37 | RP Operating | 37 | 10,537 |
| 38 | Murchison Oil & Gas | 49 | 6,124 |
| 39 | Maverick Natural Resources | 10 | 5,886 |
| 40 | Cutbow Operating | 6 | 4,977 |
| 41 | MCM | 6 | 4,349 |
| 42 | United Production Partners | 37 | 2,753 |
| 43 | Mewbourne Oil | 10 | 2,415 |
| 44 | Sinclair Oil & Gas | 10 | 2,144 |
| 45 | Burk Royalty | 15 | 1,910 |
| 46 | FDL | 3 | 1,865 |
| 47 | Prime Operating | 6 | 1,807 |
| 48 | Element Petroleum III | 30 | 1,692 |
| 49 | Spirit O&G | 18 | 1,299 |
| 50 | Winn Operating | 30 | 1,148 |
Natural resources in the Midland Basin
The Midland Basin is known for its abundant hydrocarbon resources, but it also contains other valuable natural resources. Among them are salt and potash, which are found within the Permian Salado Formation.
The Midland Basin’s salt deposits have been significant, forming thick layers over millions of years. These salt deposits resulted from the evaporation of ancient seas that once covered the region. The Permian Salado Formation hosts extensive salt beds, making it a vital source of rock salt, also known as halite. Halite has been mined as a valuable resource and is used in various industries, including chemical production and de-icing applications.
In addition to halite, the Midland Basin’s Permian Salado Formation contains potash-rich deposits, such as Sylvite and Langbeinite. Potash is a crucial source of potassium, an essential nutrient for plant growth and agriculture. Sylvite was first discovered in the basin in the early 20th century, and its yields have been instrumental in the production of potassium salts, commonly referred to as potash. These potash-rich minerals were deposited as evaporites during periods of sea-level fluctuations in the ancient Permian seas.
The exploitation of these salt and potash resources in the Midland Basin has added further economic value to the region. While hydrocarbons remain the primary focus, the presence of these other natural resources has diversified the basin’s industrial potential and underscored its significance beyond the energy sector.
The Midland Basin formations
The Midland Basin, a prominent sub-basin of the vast Permian Basin, is a geological marvel with a history dating back millions of years. Its formation is rooted in the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic eras, shaped by the interplay of tectonic forces and the gradual accumulation of sediment over time.
The basin’s origin can be attributed to the subsidence of the Earth’s crust due to complex tectonic processes in southwestern North America, creating a depression that served as a receptive basin for sediments.
The Midland Basin is a dynamic and intricate geological feature, marked by its unique sub-basins, structural complexities, and diverse stratigraphy.
Major formations:
Delaware Mountain Group
The Delaware Mountain Group is a series of sedimentary formations located within the Midland Basin. These formations are characterized by their geological diversity and the valuable resources they contain.
Spraberry Formation
The Spraberry Formation is a significant geological unit within the Midland Basin. It is known for its abundant hydrocarbon reserves and has played a crucial role in the basin’s reputation as a major oil-producing region. The formation is primarily composed of a mix of sandstone, siltstone, and shale layers.
Dean
The Dean Formation is another important geological unit found within the Midland Basin. While not as widely recognized as formations like the Wolfcamp or Spraberry, the Dean Formation has contributed to the basin’s hydrocarbon production.
Wolfcamp Formation
The Wolfcamp Formation is a prominent sedimentary unit within the Midland Basin, encompassing a vast area of West Texas and southeastern New Mexico. It has gained widespread attention due to its immense hydrocarbon potential, making it a key contributor to the United States’ oil and gas production.
Enno Peters
