While drilling for oil and gas in Oklahoma has held steady in the past year, a report indicates oilfield drilling activity in neighboring Kansas dropped an average of 36% compared to a year ago.
The information was reported by the Independent Oil and Gas Service Inc. It indicated however, the decline in drilling activity could be much greater than 36%. The publication’s Red Top Rig Report showed 771 wells were drilled to full depth so far this year, down 42.8% from the 1,347 wells drilled a year ago.
There were other indications of declining oil and gas activity in Kansas such as the total footage drilled in the state, not including the depths of wells currently being drilled. It reached 2,066,684 feet, down from 3,356,005 feet in 2024, or 38.4% lower. At the same time, the state indicated 15 active drilling rigs in the state, 4 in the eastern part and 11 in the western sections of the state. The total of 15 is down from 24 active rigs a year ago which translated to a decline of more than 37%.
The number of wildcat exploratory wells totaled 95 so far this year in the state, 30 fewer than last year for a decline of 24%. The Red Top Rig Report showed that wildcat wells account for 12.3% of the total wells drilled this year which is a 3% gain from last year.
The report indicated one drilling permit was issued in the past week by the Kansas Corporation Commission, making the total for the year at 636. It is a decrease of 495 permits compared to 2024 or a drop of nearly 44%.