For the first time in 2026, Permian Basin reported an increase in its count of active drilling rigs. In its weekly report of Feb. 20, Baker Hughes said there were 239 rigs in Permian Basin – up 1 from the previous week but down 65 or 21.38 percent from 304 a year ago.
Texas also reported an additional rig with a count of 230 compared to 229 a week ago and 280 a year ago. That’s a decline of 17.86 percent in the past year. Also, Baker Hughes reported 101 rigs in New Mexico (down 1 in past week, down 4 in past year) and 551 in U.S. (unchanged in the past week, down 41 or 6.93 percent from 592 a year ago). The U.S. count includes 133 gas-directed and 409 oil-directed wells (both unchanged in the past week). And the U.S. count is up from 545 to start the year.
Haynesville continues as No. 2 among regions with 52 rigs followed by Eagle Ford in south Texas with 40, Williston with 28 and Marcellus with 26 – all four unchanged in the past week. Among states, Oklahoma trails Texas and New Mexico with 45 rigs followed by Louisiana with 39 (down 2) and North Dakota with 26.