North America Goes Back to Losing Rigs

North America lost four rigs week on week, according to Baker Hughes’ latest North America rotary rig count, which was published on May 1.

Although the total U.S. rig count increased by three week on week, the total Canada rig count dropped by seven during the same period, pushing the total North America rig count down to 670, comprising 547 rigs from the U.S. and 123 rigs from Canada, the count outlined.

Of the total U.S. rig count of 547, 525 rigs are categorized as land rigs, 19 are categorized as offshore rigs, and three are categorized as inland water rigs. The total U.S. rig count is made up of 408 oil rigs, 130 gas rigs, and nine miscellaneous rigs, according to Baker Hughes’ count, which revealed that the U.S. total comprises 480 horizontal rigs, 50 directional rigs, and 12 vertical rigs.

Week on week, the U.S. land rig count dropped by six, its offshore rig count increased by eight, and its inland water rig count rose by one, Baker Hughes highlighted. The U.S. gas, oil, and miscellaneous rig counts each rose by one week on week, while the country’s horizontal rig count dropped by four, its directional rig count increased by five, and its vertical rig count remained unchanged, during the same period, the count showed.

A major state variances subcategory included in the rig count showed that, week on week, Texas added four rigs, Louisiana added two rigs, and Alaska added one rig. New Mexico dropped three rigs and Wyoming dropped one rig, week on week, the count revealed.

A major basin variances subcategory included in the rig count showed that, week on week, the Haynesville basin added two rigs, the Eagle Ford basin added one rig, and the Permian basin dropped one rig.

Canada’s total rig count of 130 is made up of 74 oil rigs and 49 gas rigs, Baker Hughes pointed out. Week on week, the country’s oil rig count dropped by four and its gas rig count dropped by three, the count revealed.

The total North America rig count is down 34 rigs compared to year ago levels, according to Baker Hughes’ count, which showed that the U.S. has cut 37 rigs and Canada has added three rigs, year on year. The U.S. has dropped 64 oil rigs and added 22 gas rigs and five miscellaneous rigs, while Canada has added three oil gas rigs, year on year, the count outlined.

In its previous rig count, which was published on April 24, Baker Hughes showed that North America added one rig week on week. The total U.S. rig count increased by one week on week and the total Canada rig count remained unchanged during the same period, that count outlined.

Baker Hughes’ 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.

According to monthly rig count summary figures in Baker Hughes’ latest count, the North America rig count stood at 670 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. 

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.

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