Oil and natural gas markets moved modestly higher this week as U.S. drilling activity continued to trend lower. WTI crude settled near $59 per barrel, while Henry Hub natural gas prices held above $3.60 as operators remain disciplined amid ongoing volatility.
Despite the softer price environment, Louisiana activity remained resilient. The Haynesville shale continues to anchor statewide drilling, supported by steady natural gas demand and selective capital deployment by core operators. Rig counts across North and South Louisiana held largely stable, while permitting activity showed incremental growth both onshore and offshore.
Louisiana Oil & Gas Weekly Activity Update
Commodity Prices
- WTI Crude: Settled at $59.18/bbl
- Louisiana Light: Settled at $60.88/bbl
- Henry Hub Natural Gas: Settled at $3.67/MMBtu
U.S. Rig Count
- Down 1 rig week-over-week
- Total U.S. rigs: 543
North Louisiana – Haynesville Shale
- Active rigs: 26
- New wells drilled: 9
Top Operators by Rig Count
- Apex Natural Gas: 6 rigs
- Expand Energy: 5 rigs
- Comstock Resources: 4 rigs
- BPX Energy: 2 rigs
- Aethon Energy: 2 rigs
- Other operators: multiple single-rig programs across the basin
Operations continue across key Haynesville parishes, maintaining steady gas-focused drilling activity.
South Louisiana
- Rig count: 7 rigs (unchanged week-over-week)
Active Operators Include
- Magnetar Operating – 1 rig
- Square Mile Energy – 1 rig
- Pi Operating – 1 rig
Drilling activity remains stable across several southern parishes.
Gulf of Mexico
- Offshore rigs: 9
- New offshore permits:1
- Issued to Walter Oil & Gas
Louisiana Statewide Summary
- Total Louisiana rigs: 42 (up slightly week-over-week)
New Permits Issued
- Offshore: 1
- Onshore: 13 permits across 8 parishes, including:
- Caddo
- Sabine
- DeSoto
- Red River
- Bienville
- Webster
- Claiborne
- Other active drilling areas
Additional Resources
- Full permit and rig data available through the Louisiana Office of Conservation
- Industry updates provided by the Louisiana Oil & Gas Association (LOGA)
