The U.S. Rig Count fell by four in the past week, leaving 546 active oil and gas rigs still breaking the plains of energy-producing states, reported Baker Hughes Co. on Friday. The weekly rig count remains one of the most closely-watched indicators in energy markets because of how drilling levels shape future supply exposure. Every weekly shift impacts crude oil outlook, oil price speculation, and capital deployment decisions across drilling regions.
The weekly Rig Count, as released by the company, showed a loss of 6 oil rigs, leaving 414 still active. Traders track weekly oil rig loss alerts because drilling pace changes directly influence oil price movement in both short and medium-term cycles. The number of gas rigs increased by 4 to 125 while the miscellaneous rig count fell 2 to 7. The offshore count also declined by 2 to 19. Those offshore declines reinforce how energy markets remain highly reactive to capital cost pressures and future export shipment demand patterns. Of those in the U.S., the count included 4 more directional rigs for a total of 57; a decline of 7 horizontal rigs leaving 478; and a drop of one vertical rig, leaving 11 nationally. These directional category shifts represent subtle but very real signals in how operators are repositioning drilling budgets and project timing.
Regional Impact Inside the U.S. Rig Count
Oklahoma’s count was unchanged from last week with a total of 42 rigs, the same count recorded a year ago, reported Baker Hughes Co. That stability continues to reinforce Oklahoma’s long-term drilling position inside the cycle. Stable levels also help analysts gauge how companies prioritize mid-continent positioning amid volatile crude oil markets and hedge pricing strategies.
Texas dropped its total by one to 235 while North Dakota’s count grew one to 29 rigs. New Mexico also added one rig for a total of 103. Louisiana’s total grew one as well, reaching 41. Colorado’s total fell one to 13 rigs. These state movements highlight how week-to-week drilling adjustments inside the U.S. Rig Count map out operational direction, regional sensitivity, and investor confidence reaction in core shale geography.
Kansas, Alaska and Others Show Mixed Stability
The Red Top Rig Report published by the Independent Oil and Gas Service in Wichita indicated the total in Kansas fell 7 rigs, leaving only 12 still active in the state. Alaska’s count was unchanged at 9 and California remained at 7. Ohio continued with a total of 13 rigs and Pennsylvania’s total was not changed at 17 rigs. Utah remained at 13. West Virginia stayed at 7 and the count in Wyoming slipped by one to 13 rigs. These smaller regional shifts reinforce that drilling levels often realign gradually rather than violently swinging, even when crude oil price volatility creates pressure inside the energy markets.
Market watchers will continue tracking how weekly directional rig count shifts may foreshadow long-term production movement across the Permian, Bakken, SCOOP/STACK, Anadarko Basin and other major U.S. regions. The U.S. Rig Count remains the anchor indicator that connects drilling pace, financing exposure, oil futures sensitivity, and infrastructure investment planning.
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