January 2025 Texas Production Data Hides A Surprise
The Railroad Commission of Texas reported that January 2025 Texas oil and gas production came from 158,555 oil wells and 83,176 gas wells, with preliminary statewide output of 121,373,094 barrels of crude oil and 1,000,670,181 thousand cubic feet of natural gas. The Commission's January 2025 release also flagged that these were preliminary figures subject to later revisions, and that the crude oil totals do not include condensate.
What the January report showed
The January 2025 statewide production picture pointed to a Texas upstream sector that remained massive but was moving off the record pace set in 2024. The Railroad Commission's release compared January 2025 with January 2024 and showed lower crude oil and gas volumes year over year, even as production remained historically high by any long-run standard.
The report is especially useful because it separates crude oil from condensate and gives county-level rankings, which helps analysts identify where output is concentrated. In Texas, that concentration still centered heavily on the Permian and Eagle Ford regions, with a few counties dominating the top-ranked lists for oil, gas, and condensate.
Core figures
These are the headline numbers from the January 2025 Texas production release, presented in the same general structure used by the Railroad Commission.
| Metric | January 2025 | January 2024 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crude oil | 121,373,094 barrels | About 137 million barrels | Down year over year |
| Natural gas | 1,000,670,181 Mcf | About 1.04 trillion cubic feet | Down year over year |
| Oil wells reporting | 158,555 | Not specified in the release excerpt | Large mature well base |
| Gas wells reporting | 83,176 | Not specified in the release excerpt | Large mature well base |
For context, Texas had already set annual production records in 2024, when the Railroad Commission said the state produced 2,003,844,281 barrels of oil and 12.62 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. That makes the January 2025 report part of a broader pattern: record-scale baseline production, but month-to-month shifts driven by drilling activity, well performance, and commodity-market conditions.
County rankings
The county tables in the January 2025 release show where the state's output is coming from, and the pattern is familiar: a small number of counties account for a huge share of Texas production. Martin and Midland led crude oil output, while Webb and Reeves led total gas production.
These county rankings matter because they reveal how the Permian Basin continues to anchor Texas oil growth, while the gas side remains heavily influenced by major producing counties in West and South Texas. They also help explain why changes in a few counties can swing statewide totals from one month to the next.
Top crude oil counties
- Martin County: 18,537,067 barrels.
- Midland County: 17,626,398 barrels.
- Upton County: 7,867,861 barrels.
- Loving County: 7,057,291 barrels.
- Howard County: 6,525,347 barrels.
Top total gas counties
- Webb County: 90,124,471 Mcf.
- Reeves County: 88,934,934 Mcf.
- Midland County: 75,862,445 Mcf.
- Martin County: 52,838,024 Mcf.
- Loving County: 46,368,479 Mcf.
Top condensate counties
- Reeves County: 6,351,599 barrels.
- Loving County: 4,379,993 barrels.
- Culberson County: 2,988,849 barrels.
- Webb County: 1,419,932 barrels.
- De Witt County: 1,358,870 barrels.
Why it matters
The January 2025 numbers matter because they show Texas is still producing at extraordinary scale, but not always at the same pace as the previous year. That distinction is important for investors, landowners, policymakers, and refiners because a modest monthly decline from a very large base can still translate into large absolute changes in supply.
The release also reinforces a structural point about Texas energy: a few counties can dominate statewide totals, and the balance between oil, gas, and condensate can shift as drilling programs move between plays. In practical terms, that means one month's report can hint at where capital is flowing, which basins are maturing, and which parts of the state are gaining or losing momentum.
"Crude oil production reported by the RRC is limited to oil produced from oil leases and does not include condensate, which is reported separately by the commission."
How to read the report
The most important thing to understand is that the Railroad Commission's January 2025 figures are preliminary, not final. That means the numbers can change when late operator reports and corrections are added, so analysts often treat the first release as a directional signal rather than a final accounting.
The report also uses different units for different products, which can make quick comparisons tricky. Crude oil is listed in barrels, while natural gas is listed in thousand cubic feet, so readers should avoid comparing the raw numbers directly without converting them to a common energy basis.
- Check whether the figure is preliminary or revised.
- Separate crude oil from condensate before drawing conclusions.
- Compare month-over-month and year-over-year trends, not just one month in isolation.
- Use county rankings to identify production concentration.
- Remember that Texas totals can be influenced by reporting lag as well as physical output.
Historical context
January 2025 fits into a longer Texas production story that has been shaped by shale development, infrastructure buildout, and basin-level efficiency gains over the last decade and a half. Even when monthly output cools from a peak, Texas remains the nation's central oil and gas powerhouse because the state's well count, acreage position, and pipeline network are still unmatched.
That background helps explain why a report showing lower January totals can still be seen as strong. The relevant benchmark is not whether Texas is producing more than any other state by a small margin; it is whether a nearly 121.4 million-barrel month and a 1.0 trillion-cubic-foot gas month are keeping the state in a globally significant supply tier.
Frequently asked questions
Bottom line for readers
The January 2025 Texas oil report signals a state that is still producing enormous volumes, but with output easing from the prior year's very high base. The biggest story is not a collapse; it is a shift in pace, with county-level rankings showing where Texas energy output remains most concentrated and where month-to-month changes are likely to show up first.
Helpful tips and tricks for January 2025 Texas Production Data Hides A Surprise
What did Texas produce in January 2025?
Texas reported preliminary January 2025 production of 121,373,094 barrels of crude oil and 1,000,670,181 thousand cubic feet of natural gas, based on reporting from 158,555 oil wells and 83,176 gas wells.
Was January 2025 higher or lower than January 2024?
It was lower year over year for both crude oil and natural gas, based on the Railroad Commission's comparison with January 2024 totals.
Which Texas counties led oil production?
Martin County and Midland County led crude oil production in January 2025, followed by Upton, Loving, and Howard counties.
Which Texas counties led gas production?
Webb County and Reeves County led total gas production in January 2025, followed by Midland, Martin, and Loving counties.
Does the crude oil figure include condensate?
No. The Railroad Commission states that its crude oil production figure does not include condensate, which is reported separately.