U.S. drilling activity remained relatively stable this week, with total active rig records increasing from 574 to 581, a net gain of seven rigs week-over-week. While overall growth was modest, several key drilling regions showed positive momentum, particularly in the Permian Basin and Oklahoma’s Anadarko/SCOOP-STACK plays.
The report also identified 25 operators appearing in this week’s rig snapshot that were not present in last week’s report, providing new business development opportunities for oilfield service companies targeting active drilling programs. Growth was concentrated in core counties such as Eddy (NM), Reeves (TX), Upton (TX), Canadian (OK), and Custer (OK), while activity softened in a handful of areas including Martin County (TX) and Grady County (OK).
At the basin level, the Permian Basin continued to lead U.S. drilling activity, posting a modest increase despite minor declines in several counties. Oklahoma activity strengthened as operators added rigs across multiple Anadarko Basin counties, while Marcellus/Utica activity edged higher and Haynesville activity remained essentially unchanged.
The data suggests operators continue to prioritize high-return acreage while maintaining capital discipline, resulting in a stable-to-slightly expanding drilling environment across the United States.
Week Ending May 27, 2026 vs Current Week
Executive Summary
| Metric | Last Week | This Week | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Rig Records | 574 | 581 | +7 |
| Unique New Accounts | – | 25 | +25 |
The overall U.S. rig snapshot increased by 7 records (+1.2%) week-over-week, indicating a relatively stable drilling environment with modest growth concentrated in the Permian Basin and Oklahoma Anadarko/SCOOP plays.
New Accounts Appearing This Week
The following operators/accounts appeared in this week’s report that were not present last week:
- 1920 ENERGY LLC
- ANTHEM ENERGY OPERATING (OKLAHOMA) LLC
- AXIA ENERGY III, LLC
- Aera Energy
- Azul Operating, LLC
- B.O.L.D. OIL AND GAS, LLC
- BKV Corporation
- Berry Petroleum Company
- CANTIUM, LLC
- CASTLE PEAK WATER SERVICES, LLC
- CORY, KENNETH W. LTD.
- Cml Exploration, LLC
- DJR OPERATING, LLC
- FREEDOM OPERATING COMPANY LLC
- Kraken Resources
- MORNINGSTAR OPERATING LLC
- Murfin Drilling Company, Inc.
- OIL SANDS ONE LIMITED
- RUFFEL LANCE OIL & GAS LLC
- RUTHSON ENERGY, INC.
- TDI
- TEEP Barnett USA, LLC (TotalEnergies)
- THUMS LONG BEACH CO.
- TRI-STAR OPCO, LLC
- WES WATER HOLDINGS LLC
Counties Showing Largest Growth
| County | Last Week | This Week | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custer, OK | 4 | 6 | +2 |
| Eddy, NM | 47 | 49 | +2 |
| Ector, TX | 4 | 6 | +2 |
| Reeves, TX | 19 | 21 | +2 |
| Canadian, OK | 5 | 7 | +2 |
| Upton, TX | 27 | 29 | +2 |
| Belmont, OH | 1 | 3 | +2 |
Additional counties with +1 rig include:
- Greene, PA
- San Augustine, TX
- Roger Mills, OK
- Roosevelt, NM
- Glasscock, TX
- Zavala, TX
- Payne, OK
- Major, OK
- Weld, CO
- Los Angeles, CA
Counties Showing Largest Declines
| County | Last Week | This Week | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hemphill, TX | 2 | 0 | -2 |
| Grady, OK | 6 | 4 | -2 |
| Martin, TX | 15 | 13 | -2 |
| Lea, NM | 30 | 29 | -1 |
| Ward, TX | 8 | 7 | -1 |
| Howard, TX | 8 | 7 | -1 |
| Harrison, TX | 12 | 11 | -1 |
| Fayette, PA | 5 | 4 | -1 |
Basin / Play Trends
Permian Basin
(Approximation using Eddy, Lea, Reeves, Midland-area counties)
| Week | Records |
|---|---|
| Last Week | 245 |
| This Week | 248 |
| Change | +3 |
Observations
- Eddy County (+2)
- Reeves County (+2)
- Upton County (+2)
- Ector County (+2)
Offset by:
- Martin County (-2)
- Lea County (-1)
- Ward County (-1)
- Howard County (-1)
Trend: Permian activity remains strong with gains concentrated in Delaware Basin counties, suggesting continued operator focus on premium inventory.
Anadarko / SCOOP-STACK
| Week | Records |
|---|---|
| Last Week | 28 |
| This Week | 31 |
| Change | +3 |
Drivers
- Canadian County (+2)
- Custer County (+2)
- Roger Mills (+1)
- Payne (+1)
- Major (+1)
Offset by:
- Grady (-2)
Trend: Oklahoma activity strengthened this week, indicating renewed drilling momentum among Anadarko Basin operators.
Marcellus / Utica
| Week | Records |
|---|---|
| Last Week | 14 |
| This Week | 15 |
| Change | +1 |
Drivers
- Belmont County, OH (+2)
- Greene County, PA (+1)
Offset by:
- Fayette County, PA (-1)
- Susquehanna County, PA (-1)
Trend: Natural gas-directed drilling remains stable with slight growth in Ohio.
Haynesville
| Week | Records |
|---|---|
| Last Week | 40 |
| This Week | 40 |
| Change | 0 |
Observations
- San Augustine County (+1)
- Harrison County (-1)
Trend: Haynesville remains essentially flat week-over-week.
Key Takeaways
Positive Signals
- Total rig activity increased by 7 records.
- Permian Basin continues to lead growth.
- Oklahoma Anadarko/SCOOP counties posted the strongest regional gains.
- Several new operators entered the dataset this week.
Areas to Watch
- Martin County, TX declined by 2 rigs.
- Grady County, OK declined by 2 rigs.
- Lea County, NM softened slightly.
- Haynesville activity remains flat, suggesting operators are maintaining discipline despite stronger gas prices.
Overall Market Read
The data points to a stable-to-slightly-expanding U.S. drilling environment, with growth concentrated in the Permian and parts of Oklahoma. Activity remains highly focused on core economic acreage, while gas-focused basins are largely holding steady rather than accelerating. This is consistent with operators maintaining capital discipline while selectively adding rigs in the highest-return areas.
