As the first quarter of 2025 wraps up in Grande Prairie, AB, Canada, we’re seeing a noticeable uptick in drilling activity compared to the same period last year. Based on activity records, Q1 2025 saw a 23.5% increase in total wells drilles over Q1 2024 — jumping from 170 to 210. This surge points to a rebound in operational momentum and likely reflects stronger commodity prices and improved drilling economics.
But who’s behind the bump?
🔝 Top 5 Account Names by Record Count
We compared the top operators by record count across both quarters. Here’s what stood out:
Account Name Q1 2024 Wells Drilled Q1 2025 Wells Drilled Tourmaline Oil Corp 16 27 ARC Resources Ltd 11 26 Canadian Natural Resources (CNRL) 14 19 Paramount Resources Ltd. 19 19 Birchcliff Energy Ltd. 10 13
🔍 Key Takeaways
- Tourmaline Oil Corp leads Q1 2025, nearly doubling their activity from the previous year.
- ARC Resources Ltd more than doubled their record count, showing major expansion in Q1 2025.
- Birchcliff Energy Ltd. re-emerged with consistent growth — from 10 to 13 records.
- Paramount Resources Ltd. maintained stable drilling activity, suggesting a steady development program.
As the year unfolds, it’ll be interesting to see whether this trend continues and which producers double down on drilling efforts — especially in light of volatile pricing, evolving ESG pressures, and the push toward energy diversification.
