U.S. Rig Count Rises — Utica Shale Leads Gains – Baker Hughes

April 21, 2025

After four consecutive weeks of decline, the U.S. oil and gas rig count posted a modest rebound, according to the latest Baker Hughes report. The total rig count rose by two, with both oil and gas rigs each ticking up by one. While overall activity remains below year-ago levels, the increase—led by gains in the Utica Shale and several key producing states—signals cautious momentum as operators navigate persistent price pressures and prioritize efficiency.

Here’s a structured summary of the latest U.S. rig count update from Baker Hughes as of the week ending April 17, 2025:

🛢️ National Overview

Total U.S. Rig Count: 585 (↑2 from last week)
- Oil Rigs: 481 (↑1)
- Gas Rigs: 98 (↑1)
- Miscellaneous: 6 (unchanged)
Year-over-Year Change: -34 rigs (↓5%)
- Oil: -30 rigs
- Gas: -8 rigs
- Misc: +4 rigs
Offshore Rigs: 13 (unchanged week-over-week, ↓7 YoY)

🗺️ State-Level Highlights

State	This Week	Change	YoY Change
Texas	270	0	N/A
New Mexico	100	0	N/A
Oklahoma	53	0	+8
North Dakota	32	0	N/A
Louisiana	30	0	N/A
Kansas	24	+2	N/A
Ohio	12	+2	N/A
Pennsylvania	18	+2	N/A
Utah	12	0	N/A
West Virginia	8	-1	N/A
Wyoming	21	0	N/A
Alaska	10	0	N/A
California	5	-1	N/A

🧠 Key Insights

EIA forecasts crude output to increase to ~13.5 million bpd in 2025, even with falling spot prices.

This marks the first increase in the U.S. rig count in four weeks.

Utica Shale activity is climbing, with 13 active rigs—highest since Feb 2024.

Despite steady or growing production, especially in crude, rig count remains below 2024 and 2023 levels due to operator focus on capital discipline and shareholder returns.

While the uptick in rig activity is modest, it reflects a broader trend of measured growth as operators balance production goals with financial discipline. With the EIA projecting record U.S. crude output in 2025, even amid softening prices, the latest rig count underscores the industry’s resilience and its strategic approach to navigating a volatile market.