State regulators in Texas said they issued 2 percent fewer oil and gas drilling permits in November than last year, though signs of recovery are emerging. The Railroad Commission of Texas said it issued 673 original drilling permits last month, which is 2 percent less than the same month last year. The state agency, which regulates fossil fuels in the state, reported 291 of those permits were for Midland County, host to some of the more lucrative shale basins in the country. Texas is the No. 1 oil producer in the nation and, according to data provided by oilfield services company Baker Hughes, home to about half of the nation’s inland exploration and production activity. Over the last 12 months, Texas produced 995 million barrels of crude oil and 8.1 trillion cubic feet of gas. The average daily rate of production in September, […]