The pace of new drilling permits across Weld County held steady through the first quarter of 2026, with continuing dominance by Civitas Resources across both the southern and central townships of the Wattenberg Field.
What we’re seeing
New APD submissions totaled roughly 180 in the first quarter, in line with the late-2025 run rate. Civitas accounted for over half of filings, with meaningful permit activity also coming from Occidental, Chevron, and EOG.
The southern extension of the Wattenberg continues to see the highest pad density, particularly in townships near the Adams County line. We’ve also noticed an uptick in pooling orders in the 5N 62W corridor, which suggests drilling plans are pushing further east than in recent years.
What it means for mineral owners
If your minerals are in Weld County and you haven’t had a lease offer in the last two years, now is a reasonable time to ensure you have a current understanding of your position. We’re happy to take a look if you’d like to talk through what’s happening in your specific township.
Looking ahead
We expect Q2 activity to accelerate modestly as operators push through the soft winter months into drilling season. We’ll publish a mid-year update when we have another full quarter of data.