Louisiana is one of the most important oil and gas states in the United States. It has offshore platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, onshore fields across the coastal plain, and deep natural gas reserves in the Haynesville Shale. All of this activity is watched over by the Louisiana Department of Conservation and Energy, or the DCE.

What Is the DCE?

The DCE was created in 2025 when Louisiana reorganized its energy agencies. Before that, oil and gas regulation was handled by the Office of Conservation inside the Department of Natural Resources. The new DCE brought conservation, energy planning, and environmental programs together under one agency. Its headquarters are in Baton Rouge.

What Does the DCE Do?

The DCE has a wide range of responsibilities:

  • Issues drilling permits. Any company that wants to drill an oil or gas well in Louisiana must get a permit first. The DCE reviews the application and checks that the well plan meets safety standards.
  • Tracks production. Operators file monthly production reports with the DCE. That data is made public so researchers, investors, and regulators can see how much oil and gas is being produced in each field.
  • Regulates well plugging. When a well reaches the end of its life, it must be properly plugged with cement. This prevents old wells from leaking into groundwater or releasing methane into the atmosphere.
  • Oversees coastal areas. Louisiana's oil and gas production is closely tied to the Gulf Coast. The DCE works alongside coastal management agencies to reduce the environmental impact of energy development on wetlands and marshes.

Louisiana's Key Producing Regions

Most of Louisiana's onshore oil and gas production happens in three areas. The Haynesville Shale in the northwest is one of the biggest natural gas fields in the country. The Tuscaloosa Marine Shale stretches across central Louisiana and produces oil. The Gulf Coast Basin along the southern edge of the state has been producing oil since the early 1900s. Offshore, Louisiana has hundreds of platforms in federal waters that are regulated by the federal government rather than the DCE.

How to Access Louisiana Well Data

The DCE maintains a public database of well records at dce.louisiana.gov. You can search by parish (Louisiana uses parishes instead of counties), operator name, or well number. Production history, completion reports, and permit status are all available online. ScoutTickets.io tracks DCE data to help exploration teams understand Louisiana prospects.