Helmerich & Payne led the field with 580 wells drilled, followed by Patterson-UTI, Nabors, Ensign, and AKITA. These five contractors together accounted for nearly 75% of all wells drilled in Q1 2025.
One of the most notable trends in recent years has been the acceleration of multi-well stimulation strategies—techniques where multiple wells are fractured simultaneously. From DualFrac to QuadFrac, what began as isolated pilots has now become an industry-wide shift toward efficiency, consistency, and scale.
Chevron has begun scaling up a cutting-edge well completion strategy known as triple-frac, which fractures three wells at the same time. After a successful pilot in 2024, the company now plans to use the technique on 50% to 60% of its Permian wells in 2025—up from just 20% last year.
The first quarter of 2025 saw a slight dip in drilling activity across the Haynesville region compared to the same period in 2024.
New Height Energy, LLC, a growing player in the Permian Basin, has officially acquired 25 air permits from SM Energy Company, marking a significant operational expansion in Howard County, near Big Spring, Texas.
The first quarter of 2025 in the Dealaware Basin kicked off with a significant uptick in oil and gas drilling activity across North America. Based on recent permit and rig activity data, the industry saw an 18.9% increase in drilling records compared to the same period in 2024.
The start of 2025 brought noticeable shifts in drilling and permit activity in the Midland Basin oil and gas sector. A look at Q1 2024 versus Q1 2025 reveals a 21.4% drop in overall activity, with counts falling from 821 records in 2024Q1 to 645 in 2025Q1. This decline suggests a more conservative approach among operators entering the new year—possibly driven by market volatility, shifting commodity prices, or capital discipline strategies.
The first quarter of 2025 saw a notable slowdown in oil and gas drilling activity compared to the same period in 2024. Based on licensing and rig activity records, Q1 2025 recorded 331 wells, a 21.6% decrease from 422 wells in Q1 2024.
As the first quarter of 2025 wraps up, we’re seeing a noticeable uptick in drilling activity compared to the same period last year. Based on activity records, Q1 2025 saw a 23.5% increase in total record count over Q1 2024 — jumping from 170 to 210 entries. This surge points to a rebound in operational momentum and likely reflects stronger commodity prices and improved drilling economics.
This week’s rig count reflects a market in transition—steady oil drilling in some regions, sharp pullbacks in gas, and an overall trend of strategic restraint by operators. With the Permian Basin hitting a two-year low in rig activity and gas drilling at its weakest point since late 2024
