The Permian Basin Oil & Gas Operator Directory contains 295 active oil and gas companies ranked by drilling permit activity and enriched with rig counts, wells drilled, permit trends, company profiles, websites, LinkedIn pages, and contact information. Built for sales and business development professionals, this market intelligence report helps identify the most active operators responsible for 270 active drilling rigs, 2,298 wells drilled in 2026, and 1,972 new well permits.
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Permian Basin Operator Activity Summary Report – Q2 2026
Dataset Overview
Total Operators: 245
Classification Method: Based on drilling activity, rig activity, and permit inventory using the Operator Classification Glossary.
| Classification | Operators | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Dormant / Legacy | 151 | 61.6% |
| Next Tier | 51 | 20.8% |
| Steady State | 43 | 17.6% |
| Total | 245 | 100% |
Executive Summary
The Permian Basin remains one of the most concentrated drilling markets in North America, with a relatively small group of Steady State Operators controlling the vast majority of drilling activity, rig deployment, and future permit inventory.
While Steady State Operators represent only 17.6% of all operators, they account for nearly all active drilling activity in the basin, operating 231 active rigs and drilling more than 2,300 wells during 2026.
The operator universe remains heavily populated by Dormant / Legacy Operators, which comprise over 60% of all accounts. Although these companies currently exhibit little drilling activity, many continue to hold permits, producing assets, gathering systems, and infrastructure that create opportunities for production-focused service providers.
For oilfield service companies, the Permian Basin continues to offer its largest sales opportunities through the Steady State segment, while the Next Tier segment provides emerging growth opportunities and future strategic accounts.
1. Steady State Operators
Definition
Operators consistently drilling within the Permian Basin with active development programs supported by rigs, wells drilled, and permit inventory.
Market Characteristics
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Operators | 43 |
| Active Rig Count | 231 |
| Wells Drilled 2026 | 2,372 |
| Wells Drilled 2025 | 4,935 |
| Permits Last 12 Months | 3,217 |
| Permits Last 60 Days | 797 |
Business Interpretation
This group represents the core of Permian Basin development activity and remains the primary source of demand for:
- Drilling services
- Completions services
- Water management
- Production chemicals
- Artificial lift
- Midstream expansion
- Facility construction
- Automation and digital oilfield solutions
These operators should be considered Tier 1 strategic accounts for long-term account development and market penetration.
Largest Steady State Operators
| Operator | Rig Count | Wells Drilled 2026 | Permits Last 12 Months |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exxon (XTO) | 35 | 411 | 253 |
| Diamondback Energy | 22 | 265 | 240 |
| OXY USA | 20 | 217 | 427 |
| Devon Energy | 20 | 191 | 453 |
| ConocoPhillips | 15 | 132 | 142 |
| EOG Resources | 12 | 119 | 235 |
| Mewbourne Oil | 12 | 105 | 149 |
| Permian Resources | 11 | 129 | 362 |
| SM Energy / Civitas | 7 | 83 | 39 |
| Matador Resources | 7 | 59 | 123 |
Key Observation
The largest Permian operators continue to dominate basin development activity. Exxon, Diamondback, OXY, Devon, ConocoPhillips, EOG, Mewbourne, and Permian Resources collectively account for a substantial share of drilling activity and future permit inventory, making them the highest concentration of near-term service demand in the basin.
2. Next Tier Operators
Definition
Operators with measurable drilling activity or permit inventory but operating at a smaller scale than Steady State Operators.
Market Characteristics
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Operators | 51 |
| Active Rig Count | 20 |
| Wells Drilled 2026 | 126 |
| Wells Drilled 2025 | 218 |
| Permits Last 12 Months | 189 |
| Permits Last 60 Days | 51 |
Business Interpretation
These operators often represent:
- Emerging development programs
- Private-equity-backed operators
- Basin-focused independents
- Asset optimization campaigns
- Regional drilling programs
This segment is ideal for:
- Business development prospecting
- Regional sales campaigns
- Market share expansion
- New technology introductions
- Relationship building before activity scales
Notable Next Tier Operators
| Operator | Rig Count | Wells Drilled 2026 | Permits Last 12 Months |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation Resources | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| Lakewood Energy | 1 | 5 | 4 |
| WES Water Holdings | 1 | 4 | 12 |
| Mid-States Operating Company | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| U.S. Department of Energy | 1 | 3 | 18 |
| Longfellow Energy | 1 | 3 | 11 |
| Freedom Energy (Flat Creek Resources) | 1 | 3 | 8 |
| Mack Energy Corp. | 1 | 2 | 9 |
| Bayswater Exploration & Production | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Triple Crown Resource | 1 | 2 | 2 |
Key Observation
Many Next Tier operators maintain active drilling programs despite relatively small rig footprints. Several companies possess permit inventories that could support future development programs, making this segment a strong source of emerging sales opportunities.
3. Dormant / Legacy Operators
Definition
Operators with historical permit activity but limited or no recent drilling activity during the reporting period.
Market Characteristics
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Operators | 151 |
| Active Rig Count | 0 |
| Wells Drilled 2026 | 0 |
| Wells Drilled 2025 | 208 |
| Permits Last 12 Months | 238 |
| Permits Last 60 Days | 70 |
Business Interpretation
Although active drilling is limited, these operators frequently maintain:
- Producing well inventories
- Existing facilities
- Pipeline and gathering infrastructure
- Water systems
- Environmental obligations
- Legacy field operations
Ideal solutions include:
- Production optimization
- Artificial lift
- Automation and SCADA
- Integrity management
- Environmental services
- Maintenance programs
- Facility upgrades
- Asset management solutions
Largest Dormant / Legacy Operators by Permit Inventory
| Operator | Permits Last 12 Months |
|---|---|
| Kinder Morgan | 69 |
| Deep Blue | 15 |
| Pitts Energy Co. | 13 |
| Petroplex Energy | 12 |
| Hilcorp Energy | 8 |
| WRD Energy | 8 |
| Discovery Operating | 7 |
| Paloma Resources | 5 |
| Velocity Water Solutions | 5 |
| Warwick Energy Group | 5 |
Key Observation
While most Dormant operators are not actively drilling, several maintain meaningful permit inventories and infrastructure positions. Companies such as Kinder Morgan stand out due to significant permit activity despite the absence of active drilling, indicating potential future development, facility expansion, or infrastructure-related opportunities.
Strategic Sales Recommendations
Tier 1 Focus – Steady State Operators
Prioritize the 43 Steady State Operators for:
- Drilling and completions services
- Production chemicals
- Water infrastructure
- Midstream services
- Facility construction
- Automation and digital oilfield technologies
These operators represent the highest concentration of current and future spending.
Tier 2 Focus – Next Tier Operators
Develop targeted outreach programs toward the 51 Next Tier Operators to:
- Establish relationships before activity scales
- Introduce new technologies and services
- Capture market share during growth phases
- Identify operators transitioning into Steady State status
Tier 3 Focus – Dormant / Legacy Operators
Maintain visibility with the 151 Dormant / Legacy Operators by positioning:
- Production optimization solutions
- Integrity and maintenance services
- Environmental compliance solutions
- Facility upgrades
- Automation and monitoring technologies
These operators provide recurring opportunities tied to existing asset management rather than new drilling activity.
Overall Market Outlook
The Permian Basin remains highly concentrated among a relatively small group of large-scale operators. While only 17.6% of operators qualify as Steady State, they drive the majority of drilling, rig deployment, and permit activity. For oilfield service companies seeking the highest return on business development efforts, the Steady State segment should remain the primary target, with Next Tier operators representing the strongest source of future growth opportunities.
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