What does it mean to spud a well?

The Railroad Commission of Texas describes a spud date as the commencement of drilling operations recorded by the Commission. Its spud visualization uses dates reported by operators and covers approved “New Drill” wells. That scope matters: a chart is not a complete inventory of every type of well activity. RRC reporting guidance.

The date of the field event and the date you see a record can differ. The RRC notes that its monthly visualization is a snapshot and can change when original or revised reports arrive. Preserve the source and reporting context when comparing periods.

The sequence above describes distinct milestones, not a guaranteed schedule. A permit does not establish that drilling started. A spud establishes a reported start, not the end of drilling. Completion work prepares a well for production; the next evidence to seek is the relevant completion and production reporting.

EIA’s 2019 study of North Dakota wells distinguishes drilling from completion and describes delays lasting months or years in some cases. That historical study is useful process context, not a current forecast for a particular well. Some projects never progress through every stage.

1. Identify the well. Record the state, well name, operator, and official identifier. Similar names alone are not enough to match records.
2. Confirm the event. Read the spud record and its source, rather than interpreting a permit approval as a drilling start.
3. Check the next records. Look for drilling, completion, and production information where available. Texas provides separate permit and completion queries.
4. Keep the dates separate. Note the event date, production period, and publication or retrieval date.
5. Document what is missing. A missing completion record can reflect a reporting gap; it is not proof of a particular field condition.

Start with Wildcatters Intelligence 2.0 and choose a connected state. Available records vary by jurisdiction.

Spud counts describe reported drilling starts within the source’s coverage and time window. Before comparing counts, check that the geography, well types, and reporting periods match.

A count alone does not establish spending, completion timing, production volumes, or the economics of an individual property. It is one input to research, alongside later filings and actual operating records.

Does spudding mean royalty payments will begin?

No. A drilling start does not establish production, sales, a payment date, or your entitlement to proceeds. Those questions require later records and the relevant ownership and payment documents.

Can a spudded well become a DUC?

A well that has finished drilling but remains uncompleted can be described as a drilled but uncompleted well. See what a DUC status tells a researcher.