Analyzing Drilling Activity Midland Basin: A Breakdown by Provider, County, and Rig

In the oil and gas industry, understanding drilling activity by provider, location, and specific rigs is crucial for identifying market trends and operational strengths. In this blog, we’ll walk you through a data analysis process aimed at uncovering the most active drilling providers, their primary operating counties, and their most frequently used rigs.

The analysis started by counting the total number of records for each Drilling Provider to identify the most active companies. Then, it was expanded to include the top three counties with the highest record counts for each provider, giving insight into their primary operational areas. Finally, the analysis drilled down further by listing the top three most active rigs for each provider within each county, providing a comprehensive view of drilling activity distribution.


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The Data

We started with a dataset containing three columns:

  • Contractor_and_Rig: Identifying the rig and its contractor.
  • Drilling Provider: The company providing the drilling services.
  • County: The county where the drilling activity is occurring.

Step 1: Record Count by Drilling Provider

The first step was to group the data by Drilling Provider and count the number of records associated with each provider. This provided a clear picture of which companies are most active in the dataset. The results showed that Helmerich & Payne, Inc. had the highest number of records (173), followed by Ensign Energy Services, Inc. (92). This gives an initial ranking of the most active providers.

Step 2: Adding Top Counties by Drilling Provider

Next, we expanded the analysis to include the top three counties with the highest record counts for each drilling provider. This breakdown helps identify where each provider is focusing their operations. For example, Helmerich & Payne, Inc. is most active in Midland County (63 records), followed by Martin (24) and Glasscock (18). Ensign Energy Services, Inc. is similarly focused on Martin and Midland counties.

Step 3: Including Top Rigs per Provider & County

To gain deeper insights, we further refined the analysis by identifying the top three most active rigs for each provider within each county. This level of detail is valuable for companies looking to understand operational efficiency and drilling activity distribution. In Midland County, for instance, the most active rigs for Helmerich & Payne, Inc. were H&P 439, H&P 607, and H&P 379.

Top 5 Drilling Providers

Summary of Results

The completed analysis offers a comprehensive view of drilling activity across providers, counties, and rigs. It highlights the dominant providers and their operational hot spots, providing valuable insights for business development and market assessment.

Why This Matters

Understanding who is drilling, where, and with what rigs can significantly enhance targeted sales and marketing strategies. For drilling service companies and their suppliers, this type of analysis helps identify opportunities and optimize outreach efforts.

Final Thoughts

By breaking down the data step-by-step, we successfully identified key trends and operational hotspots in drilling activity. The insights gained from this process are essential for strategic planning, partnership development, and competitive analysis in the oil and gas industry.

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