US rig count up 3 units while Canada’s count holds steady

North American drilling activity showed modest growth this week, with the United States adding rigs while Canada maintained its position. According to Baker Hughes's rotary rig count for the week ended May 15, 2026, the US rig count increased by 3 units to reach 551 rigs running. Canada's rig count remained unchanged at 124 units, bringing the North American total to 675 rigs.

The week's US gains were driven primarily by oil-directed rigs. The number of US rigs drilling for oil rose 5 to 415, while gas-directed rigs fell 1 to 128. Miscellaneous rigs declined by 1 unit to end the week with 8.

On a year-ago basis, the US count is down 25 units from the 576 rigs working this time a year ago, while the North America rig count overall is down 22 units from 697 rigs working this time last year.

US land rigs led the week's advance, gaining 4 units to reach 531 rigs working. Offshore drilling declined 1 rig to 17 units, while inland water rigs remained flat at 3. One fewr rig was drilling in the Gulf of Mexico with 8 units working to end the week.

Horizontal drilling dominated US drilling activity with 484 rigs running, up 3 from last week. Directional drilling rigs increased by 2 to 52, while vertical drilling declined 2 units to 10.

In Canada, oil-directed rigs fell 1 to 76, while gas-directed activity gained 1 to reach 48 rigs running this week.

State changes

Texas saw the largest rig-count increase with a 5-unit gain. There were 245 rigs active in the state this week. New Mexico, the nation's second-largest drilling region, added 1 rig to reach 96 rigs running. Oklahoma posted a gain of 1 rig to 45.

On the decline side, Louisiana saw the largest drop, falling 3 rigs to 39, down 9 from the year-ago period.

Pennsylvania dropped 1 rig to end the week with 17 units working.