Oil-directed drilling drives rig counts higher in US, Canada

There were 6 additional rigs drilling for oil this week in the US to end the week with 413. Oil-directed rigs in Canada increased by 5 units from a week ago.

Dec. 5, 2025

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The US drilling rig count climbed 5 units during the week ended Dec. 5 to reach a total of 527 rotary rigs working, Baker Hughes Inc. reported.

Land-based drilling was up 3 units from a week ago to 527 rigs working. The offshore rig count gained a single unit to reach 19 rigs working. There was one additional rig drilling in inland waters to end the week with 3. Of the rigs drilling offshore, 12 were in the Gulf of Mexico, an increase of 1 unit from a week ago.

There were 6 additional rigs drilling for oil this week to end the week with 413. Rigs targeting gas were down 1 unit to 129. Seven rigs were considered unclassified, unchanged from a week ago.

Rigs drilling horizontally were reported at 476, up 1 unit from a week ago, and 50 fewer than the comparable week last year. Rigs drilling directionally were unchanged at 58, up 9 units from the same period in 2024.

Of the major oil and gas producing states, Louisiana and New Mexico added rigs. Ending the week with 46 rigs working, Louisiana saw a 4-unit gain this week, while New Mexico’s 1-unit gain brought the state’s total to 107 for the week.

Canada gained 3 rigs this week to reach 191 rigs working. This count includes 126 rigs drilling for oil (up 5 units from a week ago) and 65 units drilling for gas (down 2 from last week). Canada’s rig count total was down 3 units from the comparable week last year.