Saltwater Disposal Wells in Ector County, Texas
Ector County has 59 disposal-related permits on record — 1 in the last 12 months — with 1,113 injection wells on the RRC schedule, 1,113 of them active. SWD capacity here is led by OCCIDENTAL PERMIAN LTD., AGHORN OPERATING INC., BCE-MACH III LLCamong 24 operators with disposal filings in the county.
Active SWD wells, top disposal operators, and the latest permits are below, from RRC permit and wellbore scheduling data (most recent filing 2025-08-14).
SWD Permits
59
Last 12mo
1
Permit Operators
24
Injection Wells
1,113
On Schedule
1,113
Permitted Capacity
8.87MMbbl/d
W-14 Disposal
0.45MMbbl/d
Deep Interval (8k+ ft)
2%
Injected (12mo)
93MMbbl
vs Prior Year
-64%
Capacity from active RRC UIC permits; injected volumes from operator H-10 filings.
Earthquakes M2+ (12mo)
14
vs Prior Year
-2
M3+ (12mo)
0
Max Magnitude (12mo)
M2.6
Seismicity in the Ector County area from the TexNet catalog · latest M3+: M3.1 19 km NW of Midland, Texas (2025-04-13) · sustained clusters can trigger RRC seismic response areas that curtail deep disposal. Full earthquake history →
Disposal Permit Activity
Injected Volumes (MMbbl/month, operator H-10 filings)
Disposal Operators (actual injected vs permitted, active UIC permits)
| OPERATOR | INJECTED 12MO (BBL) | PERMITTED BBL/D | WELLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| OCCIDENTAL PERMIAN LTD | 38,723,286 | 3,240,825 | 913 |
| HILCORP ENGY CO | 12,840,480 | 818,300 | 376 |
| DEEP BLUE OPER I LLC | 4,732,800 | 143,600 | 7 |
| FORMENTERA OPERATIONS LLC | 4,423,897 | 707,650 | 276 |
| OXY USA WTP LP | 3,973,180 | 222,000 | 120 |
| RING ENGY, INC | 3,270,651 | 131,800 | 35 |
| AGHORN OPER, INC | 2,876,772 | 322,200 | 268 |
| CRESCENT ENGY OPER, LLC | 2,591,967 | 373,450 | 72 |
| TEXLAND PETRO, L.P | 2,052,755 | 80,000 | 49 |
| BCE-MACH III LLC | 2,043,269 | 250,600 | 119 |
SWD Operators (by injection wells operated)
Top Permit Filers (disposal-related permits)
Injection Wells (most recently completed)
| API | LEASE | OPERATOR | DEPTH | COMPLETED | SCHED |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42-135-43975 | AVERITT SWD | DEEP BLUE OPERATING I LLC | -- | 2026-04-20 | Y |
| 42-135-42043 | PARKS BELL SWD | OWL SWD OPERATING LLC | -- | 2026-02-03 | Y |
| 42-135-42170 | GOLDSMITH-LANDRETH /DEEP/ UNIT | OCCIDENTAL PERMIAN LTD. | -- | 2025-12-02 | Y |
| 42-135-42084 | GOLDSMITH-LANDRETH /DEEP/ UNIT | OCCIDENTAL PERMIAN LTD. | -- | 2025-12-02 | Y |
| 42-135-41753 | GOLDSMITH-LANDRETH /DEEP/ UNIT | OCCIDENTAL PERMIAN LTD. | -- | 2025-12-02 | Y |
| 42-135-42080 | GOLDSMITH-LANDRETH /DEEP/ UNIT | OCCIDENTAL PERMIAN LTD. | -- | 2025-12-02 | Y |
| 42-135-06509 | GOLDSMITH-LANDRETH /DEEP/ UNIT | OCCIDENTAL PERMIAN LTD. | -- | 2025-12-02 | Y |
| 42-135-02749 | NORTH COWDEN UNIT | OCCIDENTAL PERMIAN LTD. | -- | 2025-12-01 | Y |
| 42-135-31263 | NORTH COWDEN UNIT | OCCIDENTAL PERMIAN LTD. | -- | 2025-12-01 | Y |
| 42-135-42138 | GOLDSMITH-LANDRETH /DEEP/ UNIT | OCCIDENTAL PERMIAN LTD. | -- | 2025-12-01 | Y |
| 42-135-33566 | JOHNSON GBSA UNIT | OXY USA WTP LP | -- | 2025-12-01 | Y |
| 42-135-41513 | GOLDSMITH-LANDRETH /DEEP/ UNIT | OCCIDENTAL PERMIAN LTD. | -- | 2025-12-01 | Y |
| 42-135-35444 | NORTH COWDEN UNIT | OCCIDENTAL PERMIAN LTD. | -- | 2025-12-01 | Y |
| 42-135-38301 | NORTH COWDEN UNIT | OCCIDENTAL PERMIAN LTD. | -- | 2025-12-01 | Y |
| 42-135-41340 | GOLDSMITH-LANDRETH /DEEP/ UNIT | OCCIDENTAL PERMIAN LTD. | -- | 2025-12-01 | Y |
Recent Disposal Permits
| PERMIT | OPERATOR | LEASE | TYPE | ISSUED |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 909857 | RING ENERGY, INC. | RING SHOEBAR SWD 27 | DRILL | 2025-08-14 |
| 907182 | RING ENERGY, INC. | RING SHOEBAR SWD 43 | DRILL | 2025-04-04 |
| 906402 | RING ENERGY, INC. | RING SHOEBAR SWD 28 | DRILL | 2025-03-05 |
| 902560 | RING ENERGY, INC. | MILLARD -C- SWD | DRILL | 2024-09-10 |
| 901165 | RING ENERGY, INC. | HENDERSON-PENWELL N SWD | DRILL | 2024-07-10 |
| 901166 | RING ENERGY, INC. | HENDERSON-PENWELL S SWD | DRILL | 2024-07-10 |
| 900825 | RING ENERGY, INC. | MILLARD 'C' SWD | RECOMP | 2024-06-27 |
| 900576 | DEEP BLUE OPERATING I LLC | OPIE SWD | DRILL | 2024-06-20 |
| 897682 | OVINTIV USA INC. | WAYNE SWD | DRILL | 2024-02-28 |
| 896718 | RING ENERGY, INC. | DOWN THE HATCH SWD 17 | DRILL | 2024-01-25 |
| 896714 | RING ENERGY, INC. | OPEN WIDE SWD 14 | DRILL | 2024-01-25 |
| 896715 | RING ENERGY, INC. | GLUB GLUB SWD 24 | DRILL | 2024-01-25 |
See all drilling activity in Ector County or statewide produced water & disposal activity.