ConocoPhillips Company continues to advance its development program in Culberson County, Texas, with a methodical approach that aligns drilling cadence, completion staging, and facility permitting.
Since 2024, a total of 22 wells have been drilled under ConocoPhillips’ operations in the county — predominantly in the Ford, West (Wolfcamp) field, a high-intensity horizontal oil and gas play in the Delaware Basin.
Delaware Basin Oil & Gas Operator Account Directory
Includes: Account Name, Location, Phone, Website, Wells Drilled….
Within this total, 8 wells have been classified with the completion status code “Z – Unperfed completion”, a key indicator of ConocoPhillips’ phased development strategy in the Bronco Unit.
What Is a “Z – Unperfed Completion”?
In Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) and operator reporting, the WellStatusCode “Z – Unperfed completion” designates a drilled well that has not yet been perforated or hydraulically fractured.
In other words:
- The wellbore is drilled and cased,
- The reservoir interval has not been completed,
- And the well remains inactive but ready for future completion once surface infrastructure — such as a Central Tank Battery (CTB) — is in place.
This designation allows operators like ConocoPhillips to pace completions based on facility readiness, takeaway capacity, and commodity pricing — maintaining capital efficiency while preserving reservoir pressure until tie-in.
Development Cadence: From Drilling to Facility Readiness
| Lease | Licence Date | Activity Date | Completion Status | Air Permit Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLACKJACK | 2024-08-01 | 2024-10-12 | Z – Unperfed completion | 2025-09-30 |
| BLACKJACK | 2024-08-02 | 2024-10-08 | Z – Unperfed completion | 2025-09-30 |
| BRONCO UNIT | 2024-09-25 | 2024-11-04 | Z – Unperfed completion | 2025-09-30 |
| BRONCO UNIT | 2024-09-25 | 2024-10-19 | Z – Unperfed completion | 2025-09-30 |
| BRONCO UNIT | 2024-09-25 | 2024-12-08 | Z – Unperfed completion | 2025-09-30 |
| BRONCO UNIT | 2024-10-01 | 2024-11-26 | Z – Unperfed completion | 2025-09-30 |
| BRONCO UNIT | 2024-10-01 | 2024-11-30 | Z – Unperfed completion | 2025-09-30 |
| BRONCO UNIT | 2024-10-01 | 2024-12-04 | Z – Unperfed completion | 2025-09-30 |
The licensing and drilling cadence shows ConocoPhillips drilled the Blackjack wells first in August 2024, followed by a concentrated wave of Bronco Unit wells between late September and early October 2024.
All of these wells share the Z-status, signaling they were drilled ahead of completion and facility construction.
Air Permit Milestone: The Bronco Unit Central Tank Battery
On September 30, 2025, ConocoPhillips filed and completed an Air Permit (Project #398697) with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for the Bronco Unit Central Tank Battery (CTB).
Permit Summary:
- Permit Type: Standard Permit – Oil and Gas Production Facilities
- Permit Number: 181701
- Location: Orla, Culberson County, Texas
- Permit Fee: $50 (Paid via Credit Card)
- Project Status: Complete (as of September 30, 2025)
- Customer: ConocoPhillips Company (CN601674351)
- Regulated Entity: RN112293717 – Bronco CTB
The CTB permit represents the final step in the development sequence — consolidating production from multiple Bronco Unit wells into a centralized processing and storage facility.
Cadence Interpretation
ConocoPhillips’ Culberson County activity demonstrates a sequenced development model that’s becoming standard across the Delaware Basin:
- Drill multiple wells to total depth.
→ Secure wellbores under “Z – Unperfed completion” to hold lease positions and maintain development flexibility. - Permit and construct surface infrastructure.
→ File and complete CTB air permit applications for centralized oil, gas, and water handling. - Complete and tie-in wells post-permit.
→ Convert Z-status wells to producing status once CTB and pipeline connections are active.
This approach aligns with capital discipline and infrastructure-led growth, ensuring ConocoPhillips can bring multiple wells online efficiently while maintaining compliance and operational readiness.
Conclusion
The Bronco Unit project in Culberson County illustrates ConocoPhillips’ deliberate development cadence — one that synchronizes subsurface and surface planning.
From 22 total wells drilled since 2024, the 8 unperfed wells provide a clear operational breadcrumb trail leading to the Central Tank Battery air permit milestone in 2025.
By holding completions until facilities are operational, ConocoPhillips maximizes efficiency, ensures environmental compliance, and sets the stage for steady, controlled production growth across the Delaware Basin.
