Midland Approves Drilling Permits in Residential Areas
The city council voted 6-1 to approve drilling permits, including sites in residential neighborhoods of Midland.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Oil and Gas
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The Midland City Council approved several drilling permits within city limits, including in residential areas, in a 6-1 vote. Petroplex Energy is plugging three existing wells at its approved site so three replacement wells can be drilled there.
Why it matters
Permits for drilling near homes bring the trade-off between oil and gas development and neighborhood conditions directly to Midland residents. Councilman John Norman opposed the permits, citing noise and drilling around homes that keep his father awake.
The council approved the permits by a 6-1 vote, with Councilman John Norman the sole opponent. Petroplex Energy plans to plug three existing wells and drill three replacement wells at its approved site, though the company had not responded to a request for comment by publication.
The players
Midland City Council
The elected body of Midland, Texas that voted 6-1 to approve the drilling permits, responsible for local land-use and permitting decisions within city limits.
Petroplex Energy
An oil and gas operator with active drilling operations at its approved Midland site, which is plugging three existing wells and drilling three replacement wells.
John Norman
A Midland city councilman who cast the only vote against the drilling permits, citing noise and drilling around homes that keep his father awake.
The details
The permits allow drilling in residential areas of Midland, and Petroplex Energy already runs active operations at its approved site east of Lamesa Road and north of West Loop 250. Under the permit agreements, operators must repair roads damaged by heavy drilling trucks, while several nearby residents reported little noise and no significant complaints.
Timeline
Article on the Midland drilling permit approvals published November 3, 2026.
Market Landscape
The approvals extend the Permian Basin's long-running expansion of oil and gas drilling into residential areas of Midland. The decision reflects how operators in the region continue to pursue sites within city limits as drilling activity has grown across West Texas.
Residents living near the approved Midland drilling sites may experience drilling activity, heavy truck traffic, and road repairs under the permit agreements. Operators are required to fix roads damaged by heavy drilling trucks.
The takeaway
Drilling decisions inside city limits place neighborhood quiet, road wear, and resident complaints alongside energy development, so Midland residents who live near active sites have a direct stake in how permits are enforced.
Further reading
For more on the industry, see Oil and Gas coverage of drilling activity around Midland.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Cool Down.
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