For a seventh consecutive week, the nation’s oil and gas companies increased their rig making it the longest such streak of increases since May 22, according to the Baker Hughes rig count released Friday.
The count grew by one to 563 rigs, of which 431 were oil rigs with a growth of 2. Gas rigs declined one to 124 while the miscellaneous rig total was unchanged at 8.
Oklahoma’s count slipped by one to 43 rigs, 7 less than a year ago when the total was 50 oil and gas rigs.
Texas recorded a gain of 4 rigs for a totalof 260 while the count in New Mexico dropped 2 to 96 rigs. North Dakota stayed at 26 rigs and Louisiana continued with 38.
Colorado’s count was unchanged at 11 while the Red Top Rig Report showed the rig total in Kansas remaind at 20rigs.
Ohio’s count stayed at 11 and the count in Pennsylvania remained at 17 rigs. The count in Utah did not change with a total of 13. West Virginia continued with 8 and Wyoming’s total of 16 was unchanged from the previous week.
Alaska stayed at 12 rigs and California’s count was 7, same as last week.
Baker Hughes indicated the total of oil and natural gas drilling rigs was the highest level since May 2025. Compared to a year ago, the national count is four rigs higher or 1% than the same period last year.
The rig count had fallen 7% in 2025, 5% in 2024, and 20% in 2023 as lower US oil prices led energy companies to prioritize shareholder returns and debt reduction over production growth.
The rig count serves as an early indicator of future oil and gas production levels.
