North America Adds 15 Rigs WoW, BH Count Shows

North America added 15 rigs week on week, according to Baker Hughes’ latest North America rotary rig count, which was published on September 25.

The total U.S. rig count added four rigs week on week and the total Canada rig count added 11 rigs during the same period, pushing the total North America rig count up to 807, comprising 599 rigs from the U.S. and 208 rigs from Canada, the count outlined.

The total U.S. rig count of 599 comprised 588 land rigs, eight offshore rigs, and three inland water rigs, according to the count, which revealed that the total U.S. rig count is made up of 455 oil rigs, 135 gas rigs, and nine miscellaneous rigs. The total U.S. rig count also comprised 541 horizontal rigs, 42 directional rigs, and 15 vertical rigs, the count showed.

Week on week, the U.S. land rig count rose by three, its offshore rig count increased by one, and its inland water rig count remained unchanged, Baker Hughes highlighted. The U.S. oil rig count rose by three week on week, its gas rig count rose by one, and its miscellaneous rig count remained flat during the same period, the count showed. The U.S. vertical rig count rose by four week on week, its directional rig count increased by one week on week, and its horizontal rig count dropped by one week on week, the count revealed.

A major state variances subcategory included in Baker Hughes’ latest rig count showed that, week on week, New Mexico added three rigs, Oklahoma, Utah, and Wyoming each added one rig, and Texas dropped two rigs.

A major basin variances subcategory included in the rig count showed that, week on week, the Granite Wash basin added two rigs, the Permian basin added one rig, and the Eagle Ford and Cana Woodford basins each dropped one rig.

Canada’s total rig count of 208 is made up of 145 oil rigs, 62 gas rigs, and one miscellaneous rig, Baker Hughes pointed out. Week on week, the country’s oil rig count rose by 11, and its gas and miscellaneous rig counts remained unchanged, the count revealed.

The total North America rig count is up by 68 rigs compared to year ago levels, according to Baker Hughes’ count, which showed that the U.S. has added 50 rigs and Canada has added 18 rigs, year on year. The U.S. has added 31 oil rigs, 18 gas rigs, and one miscellaneous rig, while Canada has added 16 oil rigs and two gas rigs, year on year, the count outlined.

Previous Counts

In its previous rig count, which was published on September 18, Baker Hughes revealed that North America dropped six rigs week on week. Although the total U.S. rig count added four rigs week on week, the total Canada rig count dropped 10 rigs during the same period, that count outlined.

Baker Hughes’ September 11 rig count revealed that North America added six rigs week on week. That rig count marked the break of a recent rig loss streak.

The company’s September 4 count revealed that North America dropped seven rigs week on week, its August 28 rig count showed that North America dropped five rigs week on week, and its August 21 count showed that North America dropped eight rigs week on week.

Baker Hughes’ August 14 rig count revealed that North America added eight rigs week on week and its August 7 rig count showed that North America dropped three rigs week on week. Prior to its August 7 count, Baker Hughes’ rig counts showed a series of North America rig additions.

The company’s July 31 count revealed that North America added 16 rigs week on week, its July 24 rig count showed that North America added five rigs week on week, and its July 17 count revealed that North America added 26 rigs week on week. Prior to that week on week increase, the last time Baker Hughes’ North America rig count showed a week on week increase was back in June.

Baker Hughes’ July 10 count showed that the total North America rig count dropped by 10 week on week and its July 2 rig count revealed that the total North America rig count remained unchanged week on week. Before the July 2 rig count, Baker Hughes’ North America rig count had risen for eight consecutive weeks.

Baker Hughes’ June 26 rig count showed that North America added 21 rigs week on week, its June 18 count showed that North America added seven rigs week on week, its June 12 rig count revealed that North America added 10 rigs week on week, its June 5 count showed that North America added eight rigs week on week, its May 29 rig count showed that North America added 28 rigs week on week, its May 22 rig count showed that North America added 21 rigs week on week, its May 15 rig count revealed that North America added three rigs week on week, and its May 8 rig count showed that North America added two rigs week on week.

Baker Hughes’ May 1 rig count showed that North America dropped four rigs week on week and its April 24 rig count showed that North America added one rig week on week. Prior to this, Baker Hughes’ rig counts showed a spate of weekly losses.

The company’s April 17 rig count revealed that North America dropped seven rigs week on week, its April 10 rig count showed that North America dropped 10 rigs week on week, its April 2 rig count revealed that North America dropped six rigs week on week, its March 27 rig count revealed that North America dropped 33 rigs week on week, its March 20 rig count outlined that North America dropped 21 rigs week on week, its March 13 count showed that North America dropped six rigs week on week, its March 6 rig count showed that North America dropped eight rigs week on week, and its February 27 rig count showed that North America dropped 11 rigs week on week.

Baker Hughes’ February 20 rig count showed that North America added two rigs week on week.

Monthly Rig Count Summary Figures

According to monthly rig count summary figures in Baker Hughes’ latest count, the North America rig count stood at 797 in September 2026, 805 in August 2026, 783 in July 2026, 748 in June 2026, 687 in May 2026, 679 in April 2026, 733 in March 2026, 773 in February 2026, 742 in January 2026, and 718 in December 2025. The latest count outlined that the North America rig count stood at 739 in November 2025, 741 in October 2025, 728 in September 2025, 717 in August 2025, 707 in July 2025, 687 in June 2025, 690 in May 2025, 725 in April 2025, 786 in March 2025, 836 in February 2025, and 791 in January 2025.

Archived Baker Hughes data, which Rigzone was directed to by the Baker Hughes team, outlined that the North America rig count stood at 751 in December 2024, 789 in November 2024, 804 in October, September, and August 2024, 779 in July 2024, 750 in June 2024, 722 in May 2024, 748 in April 2024, 822 in March 2024, 855 in February 2024, and 818 in January 2024.

This data outlined that, in 2023, the North America rig count stood at 784 in December, 816 in November, 814 in October, 819 in September, 836 in August, 858 in July, 832 in June, 817 in May, 861 in April, 948 in March, 1,006 in February, and 998 in January. 

The data outlined that, in 2022, the North America rig count stood at 935 in December, 980 in November, 981 in October, 973 in September, 965 in August, 943 in July, 880 in June, 811 in May, 796 in April, 846 in March, 856 in February, and 791 in January. In 2021, the North America rig count stood at 729 in December, 726 in November, 704 in October, 661 in September, 657 in August, 628 in July, 568 in June, 512 in May, 494 in April, 516 in March, 568 in February, and 530 in January, the data outlined.

Going further back, this data outlined that, in 2020, the North America rig count stood at 432 in December, 405 in November, 361 in October, 316 in September, 303 in August, 288 in July, 292 in June, 371 in May, 598 in April, 904 in March, 1,039 in February, and 996 in January. 

Baker Hughes states on its site that it has issued rig counts as a service to the petroleum industry since 1944, when Baker Hughes Tool Company began weekly counts of U.S. and Canadian drilling activity. On its site, the company describes the figures as “an important business barometer for the drilling industry and its suppliers”. The company notes on its site that working rig location information is provided in part by Enverus.

Top Operators

Enverus’ latest Drilldown report at the time of writing, which was sent to Rigzone by the Enverus team on September 22, showed that the U.S. averaged a total of 657.4 active rigs as of the week ended September 18. Of this total, 636.7 rigs were land rigs and 20.7 were offshore rigs, Enverus’ report showed.

The total active U.S. rig count averaged 657.6 in the prior week, 600.9 in the prior quarter, and 579.0 a year ago, according to the count, which showed that the U.S. land rig count came in at 636.3 in the prior week, 574.6 in the prior quarter, and 551.0 a year ago. The U.S. offshore rig count came in at 21.3 in the prior week, 26.3 in the prior quarter, and 28.0 a year ago, the report outlined.

Canada’s total active land rig count averaged 180.9 in the week ending September 18, the Enverus report showed. This count averaged 189.7 in the prior week, 142.2 in the prior quarter, and 176.6 a year ago, the report highlighted.

The top five U.S. operators by active rig count, as of September 18, were Exxon, with an average of 37.1 rigs, Devon, with an average of 31.6 rigs, ConocoPhillips, with an average of 29.7 rigs, Occidental, with an average of 24.7 rigs, and EOG, with an average of 23.7 rigs, the report revealed.

In the prior week, Exxon’s rig count averaged 36.7, Devon’s averaged 32.6, ConocoPhillips’ averaged 29.6, Occidental’s came in at 25.1, and EOG’s stood at 23.3, the report showed. In the prior quarter, Exxon’s rig count averaged 36.8, Devon’s averaged 33.4, ConocoPhillips’ averaged 29.0, Occidental’s came in at 24.8, and EOG’s stood at 23.4, and a year ago, Exxon’s rig count averaged 37.3, Devon’s averaged 30.3, ConocoPhillips’ averaged 23.7, Occidental’s came in at 25.1, and EOG’s stood at 25.3, the report outlined.

The top five Canada operators by active land rigs, as of September 18, comprised Canadian Natural Resources, with an average of 18.7, Cenovus, with an average of 16.1, Whitecap Resources, with an average of 10.1, Tourmaline, with an average of 9.4, and Shell, with an average of 8.7, the report pointed out.

In the prior week, Canadian Natural Resources’ rig count averaged 19.0, Cenovus’ averaged 14.6, Whitecap Resources’ averaged 10.4, Tourmaline’s averaged 10.6, and Shell’s came in at 8.4, according to the report, which showed that, in the prior quarter, Canadian Natural Resources’ rig count averaged 18.8, Cenovus’ averaged 9.3, Whitecap Resources’ averaged 6.5, Tourmaline’s averaged 6.8, and Shell’s came in at 7.7. A year ago, Canadian Natural Resources’ rig count averaged 16.1, Cenovus’ averaged 14.1, Whitecap Resources’ averaged 11.4, Tourmaline’s averaged 12.4, and Shell’s came in at 7.4, Enverus’ report showed.

The Enverus Drilldown Report is described by Enverus as a weekly rig count update tracking North American upstream activity and broader market trends. The report utilizes Enverus activity analytics, the report highlights.

To contact the author, email andreas.exarheas@rigzone.com