With big gains in Texas, US rig count jumps 14 units

May 20, 2022
The US drilling rig count gained 14 units to 728 during the week ended May 20, according to Baker Hughes data. Thirteen of the units to come online are oil-directed.

The US drilling rig count gained 14 units to 728 during the week ended May 20, according to Baker Hughes data. Thirteen of the units to come online are oil-directed.

The count is up 273 rigs from the 455 running this time last year.

With a 13-rig gain, the count of active oil-directed rigs now totals 576, an increase of 220 from a year ago.

Gas-directed rigs edged up a unit to 150, 51 more than were drilling in the same period in 2021.

Land-based rigs jumped 14 units to 709. Thirteen of those were horizontal, bringing the total horizontal rig count to 664 for the week, up 252 from a year ago. Directional drilling rigs edged up a unit to 39.

Of the major oil and gas producing states, none dropped rigs this week.

A main hub of US oil and gas activity, Texas posted a 12-rig increase to 357 rigs working, up 143 units from the year-ago period.

The Permian rose 8 units to 343. Active rigs in the Barnett were unchanged at 4, and the Eagle Ford gained 3 units to 65. 

Canada’s count was unchanged at 88 rigs running, up 30 from the year-ago period. Oil-directed rigs rose 3 units to 40 while gas-directed rigs decreased 3 units to 48.

About the Author

Mikaila Adams | Managing Editor - News

Mikaila Adams has 20 years of experience as an editor, most of which has been centered on the oil and gas industry. She enjoyed 12 years focused on the business/finance side of the industry as an editor for Oil & Gas Journal's sister publication, Oil & Gas Financial Journal (OGFJ). After OGFJ ceased publication in 2017, she joined Oil & Gas Journal and was named Managing Editor - News in 2019. She holds a degree from Texas Tech University.