U.S. Rig Count — Weekly Baker Hughes Drilling Data

Baker Hughes Rig Count Weekly

Weekly U.S. and Canadian drilling rig count with international monthly data. Track oil rigs, gas rigs, basin breakdowns, drilling trajectories, and year-over-year trends.

U.S. Drilling Activity Overview

The U.S. rig count stands at 563 as of the June 5 Baker Hughes release — up 1 rig from the prior week and the highest total since June 2025, a seventh consecutive weekly gain. Oil rigs rose 2 to 431 (their highest since June 2025) while natural gas rigs slipped 1 to 124 and miscellaneous rigs were unchanged at 8. The increase was led by the Permian Basin. Crude prices have eased: after a weekend Iran-Israel exchange of strikes briefly spiked WTI to $95, the two countries agreed Tuesday to halt attacks and crude fell back below $90, with Brent below $93 — surrendering the escalation premium as de-escalation took hold. Rising oil rigs translate to higher production six to twelve months out, though the response remains modest relative to the Persian Gulf supply still shut in. The next Baker Hughes release is Thursday, June 18, reflecting the Juneteenth holiday.

Of the 544 active rigs, 533 are land-based and 11 are offshore. The Gulf of Mexico accounts for 10 offshore rigs. By drilling trajectory, 484 rigs (89%) are horizontal — the dominant technique for shale development — with 48 directional and 12 vertical. Texas leads all states with 234 rigs (+2 w/w), followed by New Mexico at 98 (-2) and Oklahoma at 43 (+1).

Canada's rig count rose 1 to 124 as spring breakup eases. Canadian drilling is highly seasonal — spring breakup typically reduces activity as thawing ground makes road access difficult, and the recent low was hit in late April. Oil rigs sit at 76 while gas rigs hold at 48. Year-over-year, Canada is down 8 rigs from 132.

International Drilling Activity — March 2026

The international rig count fell 54 to 1,058 in March 2026, driven primarily by a 38-rig decline in the Middle East as regional conflict disrupted drilling operations. Asia-Pacific lost 17 rigs to 190. Latin America was the only region to gain, adding 5 rigs to reach 143 — led by activity in Brazil, Argentina, and Colombia.

Year-over-year, the international count is down 37 rigs from 1,095 in March 2025. The Middle East decline reflects the direct impact of the U.S.-Iran conflict on regional drilling programs, with operators in Iraq, Kuwait, and the UAE scaling back amid security concerns and logistics disruptions from the Strait of Hormuz closure.

Why the Rig Count Matters for Energy Markets

The Baker Hughes rig count is one of the most closely watched indicators in energy markets. Published weekly since 1944, it measures the number of drilling rigs actively exploring for or developing oil and gas reserves. The count serves as a leading indicator of future production — today's drilling activity determines supply levels 3-6 months ahead.

The relationship between rig counts and production has evolved significantly. In 2014, it took roughly 1,600 rigs to produce 8.7 million barrels per day. Today, approximately 563 rigs support 13.57 million bpd — a 280% improvement in per-rig productivity driven by longer lateral wells, faster drilling speeds, and optimized completion techniques. This means the rig count alone doesn't tell the full production story, but directional changes remain highly informative.

The current environment is defined by capital discipline. Despite crude prices elevated above $90/barrel due to the Iran conflict, operators are not aggressively adding rigs. Instead, they're returning cash to shareholders through dividends and buybacks while maintaining flat to slightly declining rig activity. This restraint supports the bullish case for oil prices — supply growth is structurally limited even as demand continues to recover.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Baker Hughes rig count?
A weekly census of active drilling rigs in the U.S. and Canada, published every Friday at 1:00 PM ET by Baker Hughes (a GE company). The international rig count is published monthly. Baker Hughes has issued rig counts as a service to the petroleum industry since 1944, making it one of the longest-running energy datasets in existence.
How are rigs counted?
Baker Hughes counts rigs that are actively drilling or have drilled at least one new well during the reporting period. Rigs performing maintenance, workover operations, or well-servicing are not included. Each rig is classified by location (land, offshore, inland waters), target (oil, gas, miscellaneous), and drilling trajectory (horizontal, directional, vertical).
What is the difference between oil rigs and gas rigs?
Oil rigs target formations expected to produce primarily crude oil, while gas rigs target natural gas formations. The classification is based on the operator's stated objective. Currently, oil rigs outnumber gas rigs roughly 3-to-1 in the U.S. (410 oil vs. 129 gas), reflecting the higher profitability of oil production at current price levels.
Why does the rig count matter for oil prices?
The rig count is a leading indicator of future production. Rising counts signal growing supply 3-6 months ahead, which can pressure prices lower. Falling counts suggest production declines, supporting prices. Markets react to week-over-week changes, particularly surprises versus expectations. However, improving well productivity means the rig-to-production relationship is not linear.
What is horizontal drilling and why is it dominant?
Horizontal drilling involves turning the wellbore sideways to run parallel with the oil-bearing formation, exposing more rock surface to the well. Currently 85% of U.S. rigs (481 of 563) drill horizontally, with 64 directional and 13 vertical rigs. This technique, combined with hydraulic fracturing, enabled the shale revolution by making previously uneconomic formations commercially viable. Horizontal wells produce 5-10x more oil than vertical wells in shale formations.
Why has the rig count declined despite high oil prices?
Capital discipline. After years of over-spending on growth that destroyed investor returns, U.S. shale operators now prioritize shareholder returns through dividends and buybacks. They're achieving production growth with fewer rigs by drilling longer laterals (up to 3+ miles), optimizing well spacing, and improving completion efficiency. The rig count is down 30 year-over-year despite crude above $95.
Which basins have the most drilling rigs?
The Permian Basin in West Texas and New Mexico dominates with approximately 60% of all U.S. oil rigs. The Eagle Ford in South Texas, Bakken in North Dakota, and DJ-Niobrara in Colorado account for most of the remainder. The Haynesville Shale in Louisiana and East Texas is the most active gas basin. Offshore Gulf of Mexico has 13 active rigs.
How does the Canadian rig count differ from the U.S.?
Canadian drilling is highly seasonal. During spring breakup (March-May), thawing ground makes road access difficult, causing rig counts to plunge — sometimes by 50% or more. Activity rebounds in late spring and peaks in winter when frozen ground supports heavy equipment. Canada currently has 135 active rigs, with Alberta accounting for the vast majority.
How long does it take a new rig to produce oil?
From spudding (starting) a well to first production typically takes 2-4 months for horizontal shale wells. Drilling takes 10-20 days, followed by completion (hydraulic fracturing) which takes another 2-4 weeks, then flowback and connection to gathering systems. Wells reach peak production in the first 1-3 months, then decline 60-70% in the first year — a characteristic of shale wells that requires continuous drilling to maintain flat production.
What is the international rig count?
Published monthly by Baker Hughes, it covers drilling activity outside North America across five regions: Middle East (500 rigs), Asia-Pacific (190), Latin America (143), Europe (124), and Africa (101). The March 2026 international total was 1,058 — down 54 from February, largely due to conflict-related disruptions in the Middle East.

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