Kansas oil and gas drilling activity declined sharply in 2025, confirming what many operators and service companies have felt on the ground all year: fewer wells, fewer rigs, and a more selective approach to capital deployment.
Using well-level activity data, this analysis looks at wells drilled by year, top operators, and top counties, comparing 2024 vs. 2025 to understand not just how much activity declined — but where it concentrated.
Wells Drilled by Year: A Clear Step Down
Chart: Wells Drilled by Year (2024 vs 2025)
- 2024: 363 wells drilled
- 2025: 235 wells drilled
That represents a ~35% year-over-year decline in wells drilled.
This reduction closely aligns with:
- Lower rig counts reported across the state
- Fewer drilling permits issued
- Reduced total footage drilled
In short, this is not a data anomaly — it reflects a real contraction in drilling programs entering 2025.
Top Operators: Fewer Wells, Tighter Focus
Chart: Top 5 Operators – Wells Drilled (2024 vs 2025)
Operator 2024 2025 BEREXCO LLC 19 4 Darrah Oil Company 19 11 American Warrior 17 9 Shakespeare Oil Co Inc 14 11 Murfin Drilling Company, Inc. 12 12
What stands out
- BEREXCO shows the sharpest pullback, signaling a major reduction in capital deployment.
- American Warrior and Darrah Oil reduced activity but remained active.
- Murfin Drilling Company is the outlier, holding drilling flat year-over-year, indicating a steady program despite broader market headwinds.
Even among the most active operators, 2025 programs are smaller, more disciplined, and more selective.
County-Level View: Activity Is Concentrating, Not Disappearing
Chart: Top 5 Counties – Wells Drilled (2024 vs 2025)
County 2024 2025 Barton 22 7 Finney 20 17 Gove 17 22 Pratt 20 11 Rawlins 19 13
Key takeaways
- Barton County experienced the steepest decline (-68% YoY).
- Gove County bucked the trend, increasing drilling activity in 2025.
- Finney County showed resilience, with only a modest pullback.
- Pratt and Rawlins both saw material declines, consistent with reduced discretionary drilling.
This matters because it shows Kansas drilling hasn’t stopped — it has concentrated into fewer, higher-confidence counties.
Why Has Kansas Drilling Declined?
Based on the data and broader market context, the decline is likely driven by five structural factors, not a single event:
1. Capital Discipline and Smaller Programs
Operators are prioritizing free cash flow and balance-sheet strength over volume growth. Kansas, as a mature conventional basin, is more exposed when budgets tighten.
2. Competition for Capital
Capital is flowing toward:
- Tier-1 shale basins
- Natural gas–weighted plays with improving price outlooks
Kansas competes internally for capital — and often loses when returns are marginal.
3. Permit Declines Signal Future Activity
Drilling permits issued by the Kansas Corporation Commission dropped sharply in 2025, indicating that the slowdown may persist into early 2026.
4. Cost Inflation Hits Conventional Plays Harder
Rising service costs disproportionately impact lower-margin conventional wells, forcing operators to reduce well counts rather than absorb cost overruns.
5. Shift Toward Core Inventory Only
The county data shows operators are focusing on proven areas (like Gove and Finney) while pulling back from fringe or step-out drilling.
What This Means Going Forward
- Kansas drilling in 2025 is not collapsing, but it is more selective and concentrated.
- Service companies should expect fewer total opportunities, but clearer signals about where activity still exists.
- Operators with flat or growing programs stand out more than ever — and deserve closer attention.
The data suggests Kansas enters 2026 with:
- Lower baseline activity
- Tighter capital discipline
- A stronger emphasis on core counties and repeatable drilling programs
For those tracking drilling cadence, sales targeting, or operator momentum, the signal is clear: follow consistency, not averages.
