New Mexico has become one of the most important oil-producing states in America. Managing all of that oil activity is the job of the Oil Conservation Division, or OCD. The OCD is the state agency that regulates oil and gas drilling, production, and safety across New Mexico. If you want to drill a well in New Mexico, you go through the OCD.
Who Oversees the OCD?
The OCD is part of the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, usually abbreviated as EMNRD. The EMNRD is a cabinet-level department headed by a secretary appointed by the Governor. The OCD director reports to the EMNRD secretary. This structure is different from Texas and Oklahoma, where elected commissioners run the regulatory body. In New Mexico, oil and gas oversight sits within the executive branch of state government.
The Oil Conservation Commission — a separate body with appointed commissioners — holds public hearings and makes final decisions on permit applications and rule disputes. The OCD staff handles day-to-day permitting, inspections, and enforcement.
What Does the OCD Do?
The OCD's responsibilities cover the full life of an oil or gas well:
- Issues drilling permits. Operators must apply to the OCD before drilling. The application includes the well location, target formation, casing design, and information about protecting groundwater.
- Collects production data. Every producing well must report monthly production. The OCD publishes this data publicly. New Mexico's production has grown so fast that these reports update constantly.
- Manages produced water. New Mexico has strict rules about produced water — the salty water that comes up with oil and gas. It must be properly handled and disposed of, usually by injecting it into deep disposal wells.
- Enforces methane rules. New Mexico has some of the tightest methane emission rules in the country. Operators must capture most of their natural gas rather than flaring or venting it into the air.
- Oversees well plugging. Inactive wells must be properly plugged and abandoned to prevent leaks into groundwater or the atmosphere.
How Do You Get a Drilling Permit in New Mexico?
The process starts on the OCD's electronic permit system, called OGRIDS (Oil and Gas Regulatory Information Data System). An operator submits a Form C-101 — the Application for Permit to Drill. The form asks for the well location in legal description terms, the operator's name and contact info, the proposed well depth, target formation, and the casing and cementing plan. Most straightforward permits are approved within a few weeks. More complex applications or those near sensitive areas may require a public hearing.
How Do You Access New Mexico Well Data?
The OCD's public data portal is available at emnrd.nm.gov/ocd. You can search for individual wells, view permit status, download production reports by operator or county, and access inspection records. New Mexico's state API code is 30. Every well in New Mexico has a unique API number starting with 30.
Why Is OCD Data Useful for Exploration?
New Mexico's Delaware Basin boom is recent enough that most data is digital and complete. Old conventional wells drilled in the 1950s through 1980s also have records in the OCD database. Those old wells recorded formation tops that are now being revisited by horizontal drillers targeting the Bone Spring and Wolfcamp. ScoutTickets.io integrates OCD data with Texas RRC data, so you can evaluate prospects on both sides of the state line with one tool.