What is the Texas DPS oilfield theft unit?

HB 48, passed in 2025, created an organized oilfield theft prevention unit within the Texas Department of Public Safety. It investigates oilfield theft, supports local law enforcement and keeps a central database.

The State Task Force on Petroleum Theft, created by SB 494 and hosted by the Railroad Commission of Texas. It brings together industry and law enforcement to study petroleum theft and recommend changes to the Legislature.

What is stolen most often from oil leases?

In the Dallas Fed's third-quarter 2025 survey, crude oil was the item most often reported stolen (61% of producers hit by theft), followed by piping, valves and wiring (58%) and equipment (39%).

Can security cameras work on a lease with no power?

Yes. Solar 4G units such as HoundLight run on their own panel and battery and send alerts over the cellular network, so they work at remote gates and tank batteries.

Oilfield Theft in the Permian Basin: What Texas Operators Need to Know

How common is oilfield theft?

In the Dallas Fed Energy Survey for the third quarter of 2025, 41% of oil and gas firms said theft had affected their operations in the past year. Among producers that reported theft, 61% had lost crude oil, 58% piping, valves and wiring, and 39% equipment.

The Railroad Commission's new petroleum theft task force has linked the problem to organized crime and says it costs Texas millions in lost state revenue. Lawmakers and industry leaders describe Permian losses as running into the billions.

What is being stolen

Crude oil, usually loaded from tank batteries at night.
Piping, valves and copper wiring from remote leases.
Tools and field equipment from yards and trucks.
Trucks and trailers.

What Texas changed in 2025

HB 48: an oilfield theft unit at DPS

Creates an organized oilfield theft prevention unit within the Texas Department of Public Safety to investigate oilfield theft, train local officers, run outreach and keep a central database.

Bill analysis

SB 494: the STOPTheft task force

Creates the State Task Force on Petroleum Theft, hosted by the Railroad Commission, with industry and law enforcement members. It first met on October 29, 2025 and is preparing recommendations for the Legislature ahead of the 2027 session.

Railroad Commission

SB 1806: tougher enforcement on stolen crude

Lets DPS inspect cargo tanks suspected of hauling stolen oil, return or sell seized product, and raises penalties, with fines of up to $100,000 and felony charges for some offenses.

Texas Tribune

Governor Abbott signed all three bills in Midland in June 2025.

Where theft happens on a lease

Lease gates and roads, tank batteries and load-outs, saltwater disposal and frac water sites, pipe and laydown yards, and compressor stations. They have the same weak points: they are remote, dark and unmanned at night.

Oilfield tank battery with catwalk at dusk

Practical steps for operators

Lock and log every gate, and know which carriers should be on each lease and when.
Reconcile run tickets against tank gauges and gate logs every few days, so a missing load shows up quickly instead of at month end.
Light and watch the load-out. Thieves avoid sites where they are seen and recorded.
Record license plates at the lease gate.
Mark and inventory valves, pipe and tools, and keep yards locked.
Report every theft to your county sheriff and share details with other operators. The new DPS unit and the STOPTheft task force depend on that data.

How cameras help on leases with no power

Most leases have no mains power or broadband, which is why fixed CCTV rarely reaches them. HoundLight is a solar 4G unit that goes on a pole outside the classified area in minutes. After hours it spots people and vehicles, switches on its lights, plays a warning in English or Spanish and sends the clip to your field team. SmartReg at the gate logs every plate with a photo and the time, so a missing load can be matched to a truck.

Oilfield theft in the Permian Basin: what Texas operators need to know