A Case Study in Coordinated Drilling and Facility Development
ConocoPhillips continues to demonstrate disciplined, sequential development across South Texas, as seen in the evolution of the Ruckman Ranch Unit in Karnes County and the emerging Ruckman Trust Unit in neighboring DeWitt County. Both projects illustrate how tightly integrated drilling, completion, and environmental permitting have become across the Eagle Ford play.
Eagle Ford Oil & Gas Operator Account Directory – $10
Includes: Account Name, Location, Phone, Website, Wells Drilled….
Ruckman Ranch Unit: Coordinated Drilling and Facility Buildout
The Ruckman Ranch Unit (Abstract 31) in Karnes County provides a textbook example of how ConocoPhillips structures its drilling and permitting workflow.
In late 2024, drilling activity began on Ruckman Ranch Unit – Abstract 31, with activity dates recorded from November 20, 2024, and completion finalized by June 11, 2025.
Just two months into drilling, ConocoPhillips (operating under Burlington Resources Oil & Gas Company LP) submitted an air permit notification to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for a new production facility.
Field Value Permit # 179013 Project # 388346 Project Technical Name RUCKMAN RANCH 81 Permit Type PBR (Permit by Rule) Rule Cited 106.352 (2012-Nov-22) Level 2 County Karnes Status COMPLETE Received / Complete Date January 29, 2025
This PBR air permit (Project #388346) marked a critical step between drilling and completion — authorizing the installation of production equipment such as separators, tanks, and flares.
The sequencing reflects a well-coordinated development model, where environmental authorization and production facility construction move in parallel with well completion activities.
Ruckman Trust Unit: New Air Permits Signal Next Development Phase
Fast forward to fall 2025, ConocoPhillips has begun extending its footprint into DeWitt County, filing new air permits for Ruckman Ranch 4 and Ruckman Ranch 6 — both located in Abstract 7 and operating under the Ruckman Trust Unit designation.
Field Ruckman Ranch 4 Ruckman Ranch 6 Project # 398908 398905 Permit # 181779 181777 Permit Type PBR (Permit by Rule) PBR (Permit by Rule) Rule Cited 106.352 (2012-Nov-22) Level 2 106.352 (2012-Nov-22) Level 2 County Dewitt Dewitt Status COMPLETE COMPLETE Received / Complete Date October 7, 2025 October 7, 2025 Permittee Burlington Resources O&G Co. LP Burlington Resources O&G Co. LP
These permits align directly with drilling activity on Ruckman Trust Unit C-7 and D-7, where activity dates were logged between September 24–27, 2025.
The timing — just 10 days between drilling and air permit approval — again underscores the company’s operational rhythm: drilling, permitting, and facility preparation advancing in a synchronized sequence.
Regulatory Framework: TCEQ Permit by Rule (§106.352 Level 2)
Each of these permits falls under the TCEQ §106.352 Permit by Rule for Oil and Gas Production Facilities, Level 2. This rule allows operators to register standard equipment configurations when emissions remain below defined thresholds, streamlining the approval process.
Key features of the Level 2 PBR:
- Covers wellhead, separator, heater, and tank operations.
- Designed for multi-well production sites.
- Ensures flare and emissions control compliance.
- Enables rapid authorization, often within days of submission.
This approach enables ConocoPhillips to maintain development momentum while meeting state and federal air quality requirements.
From Ruckman Ranch to Ruckman Trust: A Template for Efficient Expansion
The Ruckman Ranch and Ruckman Trust units collectively illustrate how large operators are sequencing drilling and environmental permitting to minimize downtime between spud and production.
By leveraging TCEQ’s streamlined Permit by Rule process, ConocoPhillips can quickly authorize facilities as drilling progresses, ensuring seamless transitions from rig release to first production.
The data also highlights a broader regional trend: operators are redeploying capital to proven acreage and expanding around existing infrastructure, maximizing returns through pad-based development and regulatory efficiency.
Takeaway
The Ruckman Ranch development exemplifies how the Eagle Ford Shale’s next phase is being driven not by wildcat exploration but by strategic, high-efficiency execution.
With new air permits now filed for Ruckman Trust Unit wells (Abstract 7), ConocoPhillips is clearly positioning itself for continued production strength in South Texas — combining disciplined operational timing, environmental compliance, and steady expansion across Karnes and DeWitt Counties.
