Oklahoma Rig Activity Holds Steady as U.S. Sees Sharper Declines
Oklahoma’s oil and gas activity held mostly steady in the latest Baker Hughes rig count, showing only a minimal shift even as several major U.S. basins experienced notable declines.
Oklahoma Play-by-Play
Oklahoma recorded 41 active rigs, down by just one from the previous week. Even with the slight dip, several of the state’s major plays demonstrated resilience.
Cana Woodford Edges Higher
The Cana Woodford added one rig, bringing its total to 17 active drilling operations. The gain reinforces the play’s position as the state’s most consistently active shale target.
Granite Wash Sees Drop
In contrast, the Granite Wash registered a two-rig decline, leaving 12 rigs still operating across the western Oklahoma and Texas Panhandle region.
Other Oklahoma Plays Remain Unchanged
The remainder of Oklahoma’s key plays held flat:
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Arkoma Woodford: 2 rigs
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Ardmore Woodford: 3 rigs
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Mississippian: 1 rig
The stability across these plays helped offset the losses in the Granite Wash.
National Rig Count Trends Show Broader Weakness
While Oklahoma remained relatively stable, rig activity across the broader U.S. weakened.
Permian Basin Leads the Decline
The Permian Basin, the nation’s top-producing oil region, fell three rigs, dropping to 251. The decline signals softening momentum in a basin that often drives national totals.
Eagle Ford Also Down
South Texas’ Eagle Ford lost two rigs, bringing its count to 39 and reinforcing a multi-month trend of slower drilling activity.
Other Major Basins Hold Steady
Several prominent gas and oil plays remained unchanged:
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Haynesville: 41 rigs
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Marcellus: 24 rigs
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Williston: 29 rigs
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Utica: 14 rigs
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D-J Basin: 9 rigs
The consistency in these basins partially offset the notable oil-side losses.
Oil vs. Gas Rig Shifts
Across the country, the U.S. saw a loss of 12 oil rigs but a gain of 3 natural gas rigs, underscoring a shift in operational focus as commodity prices fluctuate. Over the past year, the nation’s oil rig count has fallen by 70 rigs, highlighting sustained pressure in the upstream sector.