Energy News February 2026 by Railroad Commission of Texas

ENERGY

Chance Karshens and Darius Phillips, Safety Officers, at the State Operations Center during Winter Storm Fern

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Upcoming Events

Page 4 Letter from the RRC

Page 5 Year in Review

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Winter Storm Fern

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Central Records Division

Milestone

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Listening Sessions Register for the event

Page 11 Texas Energy on Track Podcast

Page 12 COMMISSIONERS’ CORNER

U P C O M I

Listen to a New Episode Every Other Wednesday! Episodes 11 and 12 Out Now

Texas Energy On Track

Wednesday,Noon Understanding the RRC

Listening Sessions: Remote via Microsoft Teams.

Wednesday,9:3

FROM THE RRC

E N E R G Y N E W S

Welcome to the February edition of Energy News. As we move through the winter months, the agency remains committed to facilitating the consistent flow of natural gas for home heating and to the Texas electric grid, supporting the safety and well-being of Texans.

Thank you for reading and for staying engaged with the work of the Railroad Commission. We look forward to sharing new updates, insights and accomplishments with you in the months ahead 4

Railroad Commission Chairman Jim Wright, Commissioner Christi Craddick and Commissioner Wayne Christian would like to thank the frontline oilfield workers, first responders, linemen and all those who worked tirelessly across Texas during Winter Storm Fern to keep the state operational. Because of their efforts, the Texas natural gas supply chain remained stable throughout the event, delivering critical fuel to homes and power generators.

During the event, the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) actively supported industry partners by conducting daily meetings to oversee field operations and provide guidance to essential infrastructure operators

The agency also maintained a continuous, 24/7 presence at the State Operations Center, collaborating closely with partner agencies to support response efforts and facilitate an adequate natural gas supply to keep Texans safe this winter season.

The RRC will continue its critical infrastructure inspections throughout the remainder of the winter to help ensure the reliability and safety of Texas’ energy system. We remain committed to working alongside industry and state partners to maintain critical facilities and keep energy flowing, regardless of conditions.

For more information on weather emergency resources, please visit rrc.texas.gov/weather.

Texas’ response to the recent winter storm shows how much the state has improved over the past five years. I’m proud of the progress we’ve made through the efforts of Texas energy producers, pipeline operators, and RRC staff who put in the work to weatherize and prepare our infrastructure. Because of them, we were able to help ensure homes stayed warm and the electric grid remained stable during Winter Storm Fern.

Jim Wright, Railroad Commission Chairman

Texas’ energy system is strongest when preparation meets execution, and that’s exactly what we saw during this winter weather event. Thanks to the dedication of frontline workers and the close coordination between the Railroad Commission, industry, and our state partners, natural gas continued flowing to homes and power generators when Texans needed it most. Our focus remains on vigilance, reliability, and ensuring critical infrastructure performs under any conditions

Christi Craddick, Railroad Commissioner

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While a winter storm bore down on Texas, thousands of workers were out in the cold, around the clock, making sure oil and natural gas kept flowing. Because of their grit, professionalism, and sacrifice, millions of families were able to stay warm, safe, and secure in their homes. These men and women are the backbone of our energy system, and Texas owes them a debt of gratitude.

Wayne Christian, Railroad Commissioner

RRC Completes Digitization of 100 Million Records

The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) began 2026 by surpassing a major milestone: digitizing more than 100 million oil and gas records.

This monumental effort by the Commission's Central Records office is a direct reflection of the agency's commitment to improved transparency and efficiency.

With nearly a century’s worth of documents digitized and available online, researchers will be able to access the 100,205,204 files from anywhere in the world rather than having to travel to the RRC headquarters in Austin. This includes a wide variety of documents, such as oil and gas well records, hearing files, permits and reports - all routinely used by researchers, landowners, energy companies and public information requesters.

In addition, this improves the efficiency of RRC Central Records staff, who are able to focus on larger and more complex records research requests, improving overall response time and saving man hours

These accomplishments are part of a broader effort to enhance the Commission’s digital capabilities, building on its agency-wide achievements in efficiency to support responsible energy production and to protect Texans and the environment. Other recent improvements include the use of new online tools like the Online Inspection Lookup (RRC OIL) and the Pipeline Inspection Permitting and Evaluation System (PIPES). These cloud-based systems allow operators to file applications and reports electronically and enable 24/7 public access to inspection and violation data.

Records that have been digitized can be found on the RRC’s website at https://wwwrrctexasgov/resourcecenter/research/researchqueries/imaged-records/imaged-recordsmenu/.

“Digitizing 100 million records represents a significant achievement in the Railroad Commission’s ability to better serve Texans, streamlining access to our vast library of files and continuing to expand our modernization efforts.

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WeiWang,RRCExecutiveDirector

CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION

The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) continues to advance its commitment to public engagement and transparency through its remote Listening Sessions. These important sessions offer Texans an accessible forum to learn more about the agency’s mission and regulatory responsibilities. Held bimonthly, the sessions are coordinated by the RRC’s Office of Public Engagement (OPE) and include an overview of the RRC followed by discussions led by the agency’s subject matter experts.

UPCOMING SESSION DETAILS:

During our first two sessions, attendees posed thoughtful questions and comments on topics such as orphaned well management, natural resource stewardship and other key regulatory priorities.

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Thank you all for starting this program. It's very beneficial for the residents of the city to understand what the Railroad Commission does. Thank you very much. Houston, TX Resident

Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Time: Noon - 1:30 p.m.

Format: Microsoft Teams, with dial-in option. Spanish translation will be provided. Registration: Register in advance here: https://events.gcc.teams.micro soft.com/event/8889c3fe-338446f3-9c89934493333d69@a3b01f75-ff4a4001-9d68-9ba9ec5ea0bc

TEXAS ENERGY ON TRACK PODCAST

EPISODE 11

Site Remediation

Host Bryce Dubee and co-host Nick Kraynok sit down with Peter Pope, Site Remediation Manager at the RRC. Their discussion ranges from cleaning up pollution in the oilfield and protecting the environment to how the RRC repurposes abandoned oil and gas sites.

EPISODE 12

Pipeline Damage Prevention

Bryce and Nick are joined by Miles Kirk, Pipeline Safety Support Manager at the RRC, to discuss Chapter 18 requirements for digging underground, the importance of calling 811 before you dig, what to do when an underground line is damaged and more.

CHAIRMAN WRIGHT COMMISSIONERS’ CORNER

ht traveled to Midland, Texas, joining ’s Water Division for a tour of produced water recycling facilities.

Later in the month, Chairman Wright traveled to Houston, where he addressed members of the Texas Pipeline Association and thanked them for their efforts to ensure that the state’s critical natural gas infrastructure is weatherized and prepared to meet Texas’ heating and electricity demands during the winter season.

Following the tour, Chairman Wright led a roundtable discussion where he emphasized the importance of treating produced water and to highlight how alternatives to underground injection can strengthen domestic energy production while supplying a new water source for drought-stricken regions of Texas.

COMMISSIONER CHRISTIAN COMMISSIONERS’ CORNER

This last month, Commissioner Christian traveled to speak to constituents in Smith County, Grand Prairie, and Austin to share a message focused on the importance of maintaining access to energy that is affordable, abundant, and dependable for Texans and businesses alike.

His remarks emphasized how reliable energy underpins everyday life, from keeping homes comfortable and hospitals operating to supporting manufacturing, transportation, and food supply chains. Christian highlighted that energy reliability is not just an abstract concept, but something people notice most when it is disrupted.

Consistent access to power and fuel helps families plan their budgets with confidence and allows employers to operate efficiently and create jobs. He also pointed to the role that domestic energy production plays in providing price stability and reducing exposure to global supply disruptions. In his message, Christian stressed that long-term planning and continued investment are essential to ensuring energy systems can meet demand during periods of extreme weather and population growth. 14