Louisiana’s oil and gas sector showed steady drilling momentum over the past 30 days, driven primarily by strong Haynesville activity, while South Louisiana remained limited and offshore operations held firm. Despite weaker natural gas pricing, leading operators continue to deploy rigs, signaling confidence in core gas acreage.
Commodity Price Snapshot
Market pricing showed mixed movement:
- WTI Crude: $110.82 (up)
- Louisiana Light Sweet (LLS): $120.73 (up)
- Henry Hub Natural Gas: $2.81 (down)
The divergence between rising crude prices and weaker natural gas continues to pressure gas-focused operators, particularly in the Haynesville.
Rig Count Overview (Last 30 Days – Spud Activity)
- Total Louisiana Rigs Spudding Wells: 40 rigs
- North Louisiana (Haynesville): 26 rigs
- South Louisiana: 4 rigs
- Offshore (Gulf of Mexico): 10 rigs
Drilling activity remains heavily concentrated in North Louisiana, with the Haynesville accounting for the majority of recent spuds.
Top 5 Operators – Louisiana Rig Report
| Operator | Rig Count | Contractor & Rigs |
|---|---|---|
| Apex Natural Gas, LLC (“APEX”) | 7 | Precision 609, Independence 336, Independence 335, Precision 582, Precision 576, Precision 614, Scan Explorer |
| Expand Energy | 5 | Expand 504, Expand 502, Expand 503, Cactus 141, Cactus 149 |
| Comstock Resources Inc. | 3 | Patterson 279, Patterson 905, Nabors X01 |
| BPX | 3 | H&P 420, H&P 424, H&P 256 |
| Aethon Energy | 2 | Precision 577, Scan Legacy |
Operator Insights and Market Commentary
Apex Natural Gas Leads Haynesville Activity
Apex is the most active operator with 7 rigs spudding wells, utilizing a mix of Precision, Independence, and Scan rigs. This level of activity highlights continued investment in Haynesville gas despite lower Henry Hub prices.
Expand Energy Maintains Strong Position
With 5 rigs running, Expand Energy remains a key player. Their use of both internal rigs and contractors like Cactus reflects a flexible and scalable drilling strategy.
Comstock and BPX Drive Mid-Tier Activity
Both operators are running 3 rigs each, maintaining consistent drilling programs. Comstock’s use of Patterson and Nabors rigs shows contractor diversity, while BPX continues to rely on high-spec H&P rigs.
Aethon Energy Focuses on Core Development
With 2 rigs active, Aethon appears to be targeting core acreage with a focused drilling approach rather than expanding aggressively.
Permitting Activity Signals Continued Development
- No offshore permits issued
- 10 onshore permits issued across:
- Caddo
- Winn
- De Soto
- Iberia
- LaSalle
- Plaquemines
While offshore activity remains stable, onshore permitting continues to support future drilling pipelines, particularly in key Haynesville parishes.
What This Means for the Market
The combination of:
- Strong Haynesville drilling activity
- Limited South Louisiana activity
- Stable offshore rigs
- Ongoing permitting
suggests continued concentration rather than broad-based growth.
Operators are prioritizing core gas assets, with disciplined capital deployment rather than aggressive expansion.
Key Takeaways for Sales & Business Development
- Focus on Apex and Expand Energy → highest drilling activity
- Target Comstock and BPX → consistent mid-tier programs
- Engage contractors like Precision, H&P, Cactus, Patterson, Nabors → strong field presence
- Monitor permits in Haynesville parishes → early indicator of new work
- Prioritize North Louisiana → dominant share of drilling activity
Author: phinds
