Permian Basin and U.S. reached their highest rig counts of 2026 last week in the Oct. 9 report from Houston services firm Baker Hughes. Permian increased to 274 active drilling rigs by adding 4 in the past week (up 24 or 9.60 percent from 250 a year ago) after starting the year with 247 rigs. And the U.S. count increased to 603 by adding 5 rigs (up 56 or 10.24 percent from 547 a year ago) after starting the year with 545 rigs. It’s the first U.S. count of at least 600 rigs in more than two years since May 2024.
It was the 11th consecutive week of increased or flat rig counts in Permian since the last decline July 24.
Haynesville (up 1 to 57 rigs) increased its margin over Eagle Ford (49) among regions, followed by Williston (35) and Marcellus (23). Among states, Oklahoma (down 1 to 51) holds third followed by Louisiana (up 2 to 38) and North Dakota (31).
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