While the U.S. rig count landscape continues to show subtle shifts from week to week, the latest Baker Hughes data provides a clear message from Oklahoma — drilling activity remains durable, especially in its core plays.
Steady Drill Activity in the Heart of the Anadarko
According to the most recent Baker Hughes rig count, Oklahoma saw a net decline of one rig overall, but this headline belies a more stable story in the state’s major drilling plays:
- The Anadarko Basin — the engine of Oklahoma drilling — showed no change in activity week-over-week.
- Key sub-basins held flat:
- Cana Woodford: 22 rigs
- Granite Wash: 13 rigs
- Ardmore Woodford: 2 rigs
- Arkoma Woodford: 3 rigs
- Mississippian: no rigs active
In other words, Oklahoma’s core liquids and gas-rich zones continue to be developed at pace. Even though the statewide rig tally edged down by one, the major contributors in the Anadarko remain firmly engaged.
This steadiness contrasts with activity in other basins: the Permian Basin shed three rigs, the Williston dropped one, while the Haynesville and Marcellus saw modest gains. Oklahoma’s flat reading in the Anadarko suggests operators are prioritizing consistency over contraction — a mark of disciplined drilling strategies in a still-challenging commodity environment.
Top 5 Active Accounts in Oklahoma — Who’s Running the Rigs
Drilling reports don’t just communicate trends — they show who is actually working. Based on the latest Oklahoma rig data, here are the top five accounts with the most rig activity:
1. Mewbourne Oil Company
- Rig Count: 6
- Contractors & Rigs:
- Patterson 291
- Patterson 591
- Patterson 592
- Latshaw 15
Mewbourne remains the most active operator in Oklahoma this cycle, deploying multiple rigs across key plays.
2. Continental Resources
- Rig Count: 5
- Contractors & Rigs:
- H&P 544
- H&P 548
- Patterson 592
- Patterson 585
Continental’s footprint persists across the core of the Anadarko, signaling steady program execution.
3. Validus Energy
- Rig Count: 4
- Contractors & Rigs:
- H&P 388
- H&P 300
- H&P 459
- H&P 649
A mid-sized but active operator, Validus continues a diversified rig deployment with H&P crews.
4. Camino Natural Resources, LLC
- Rig Count: 4
- Contractors & Rigs:
- Cactus 154
- Cactus 160
- Cactus 166
- Cactus 168
Camino’s heavy use of Cactus rigs underscores its commitment to maintaining operational cadence in the basin.
5. Mach Resources (BCE-MACH LLC)
- Rig Count: 2
- Contractors & Rigs:
- Patterson 587
- Cyclone 42
Mach rounds out the top five with a lean but focused rig set.
What This Means for Oklahoma’s Drilling Outlook
Taken together, the rig count and active accounts paint a picture of resilient drilling activity in Oklahoma:
✅ Operators are not retrenching — they’re continuing well programs in core plays.
✅ A mix of majors, mid-sized operators, and private companies are driving drilling work.
✅ Rig contractors like Patterson, H&P, and Cactus remain central to the activity base.
In a market where basins elsewhere are trimming rigs, Oklahoma’s flat churn in the Anadarko — paired with steady operator participation — suggests confidence in current pricing and well economics. For industry watchers, that’s a signal that the state’s drilling ecosystem still has momentum.
