Circle-S Energy, LLC is a privately held exploration and production company headquartered in McKinney, Texas. Founded by Pat L. Smith, the company operates more than 60 wells and manages interests in more than 3,000 non-operated assets across multiple U.S. basins, with core activity centered in the Permian Basin and South Texas. Circle-S approaches development with a disciplined technical strategy — leveraging detailed reservoir evaluation, modern drilling technology, and a focus on efficient, repeatable execution across its operated assets.
A Surface-Level Look at the WEDGE Development
The WEDGE project reflects a classic Factory-style development concentrated entirely in Loving County on the WEDGE lease. The six wells are grouped on a single pad location within Block 29, Abstract 996, Section 30, and were all drilled using the Ensign T54 rig — a consistent, multi-well pattern typical of optimized pad development.
What Lies Below: Sub-Surface Persona
This project targets two stacked formations — the Wolfcamp (Phantom) and Bone Spring (Sandbar) — split evenly across the six horizontal wells. With projected depths ranging from 11,200 to 12,500 feet and an average of 11,850 feet, the program delivers more than 71,000 total drilled feet across multiple zones.
Project Cadence: Timing From Permit to Production Pathway
Circle-S’s WEDGE pad displays a clean, measurable cadence from permitting to drilling activity:
- Average licence date: July 10, 2025
- First drilling activity: August 23, 2025
- Elapsed time (Avg permit → First activity): 44 days
- Average timing from permit to drilling for all wells: 47.17 days
- Licence date spread across the pad: 14 days (July 3 → July 17)
This cadence indicates a well-organized shift from regulatory approval into drilling execution — with drilling commencing roughly six weeks after the average permit date and maintaining a tight operational window across all wells.
Facility Air Permit Timing
Supporting infrastructure permitting also aligns with the project’s development rhythm:
- TCEQ Air Permit Received: November 21, 2025
- Timing (Air permit → Avg permit date): 134 days
- Timing (Air permit → First activity): 90 days
The air permit arrives approximately three months after drilling begins — consistent with a strategy where surface facility buildout trails drilling activity but remains comfortably within the lifecycle of completions and early production planning.
Why This Matters
The WEDGE project serves as a clear example of how Circle-S executes Factory-style development: tightly grouped wells, multi-zone targets, consistent rig deployment, and a predictable timeline from permitting to drilling and facility authorization. This structured approach allows smaller and mid-sized operators like Circle-S to compete with major independents by maximizing efficiencies, controlling timelines, and reducing operational cycle time.
