May 5 2026
Louisiana’s oil and gas activity continues to show a disciplined but active development pattern, with recent drilling data highlighting where operators are focusing capital and how rig deployment is evolving across the state.
According to the latest field activity, commodity prices remain supportive for oil, with WTI holding above $100 and Louisiana Light Sweet trading at a premium. However, natural gas prices remain relatively weak, and that dynamic is clearly influencing activity levels—particularly in the Haynesville.
Overall, Louisiana’s rig count sits at 36, reflecting a slight pullback driven primarily by reduced activity in North Louisiana. The Haynesville shale dropped to 22 rigs this week, though operators still brought 14 new wells online, reinforcing that development is continuing, just at a more measured pace. South Louisiana remains steady at four rigs, and offshore activity in the Gulf is unchanged at 10 rigs, indicating stability in longer-cycle projects.
Looking deeper into the last 30 days of spud activity, a clear group of operators is driving drilling momentum.
Apex Natural Gas and Expand Energy lead the state, each with four wells spud. Apex deployed a mix of Independence and Precision rigs, including Independence 336 and 335 along with Precision 609 and 614, showing flexibility across contractors. Expand Energy matched that pace with its own fleet, utilizing Expand 504, 502, 503, and Cactus 149, highlighting a strong internal or dedicated rig strategy.
BPX and Comstock Resources follow closely with three wells each. BPX relied exclusively on Helmerich & Payne rigs (256, 424, and 420), while Comstock used a more diversified contractor mix, including Patterson 905, Nabors X01, and Patterson 279. Azul Operating rounds out the top five with two wells, deploying Precision 582 and Independence 334.
From a geographic standpoint, activity is heavily concentrated in De Soto Parish, which recorded nine spud wells over the past 30 days. This makes it the clear center of gravity for Haynesville drilling. Operators active in De Soto include Expand Energy, BPX, EXCO Resources, Azul Operating, Apex Natural Gas, and Aethon Energy, with rigs from H&P, Precision, Independence, and others all deployed in the area.
Caddo Parish and Red River Parish follow, each with three wells spud. In Caddo, Apex Natural Gas and Silver Hill Energy are leading activity with Independence rigs, while Red River activity is driven by Expand Energy and Comstock Resources using Patterson and Nabors rigs.
On the permitting side, there were 16 new permits issued this week, including one offshore permit from Chevron and 15 onshore permits concentrated in Red River, Caddo, and De Soto parishes. This aligns closely with where drilling activity is already occurring, suggesting continued near-term momentum in these core areas.
The overall picture in Louisiana is one of steady, focused development. While lower natural gas prices are tempering aggressive expansion in the Haynesville, operators are continuing to execute on core acreage with disciplined capital deployment. De Soto Parish remains the focal point, and a small group of highly active operators—led by Expand Energy and Apex Natural Gas—are driving the majority of new drilling activity across the state.
Top 5 Operators by Spud Count
1. Apex Natural Gas (APEX) — 4 wells
- Rigs: Independence 336, Independence 335, Precision 609, Precision 614
2. Expand Energy — 4 wells
- Rigs: Expand 504, Expand 502, Expand 503, Cactus 149
3. BPX — 3 wells
- Rigs: H&P 256, H&P 424, H&P 420
4. Comstock Resources — 3 wells
- Rigs: Patterson 905, Nabors X01, Patterson 279
5. Azul Operating — 2 wells
- Rigs: Precision 582, Independence 334
👉 Insight: Activity is concentrated among a small group of Haynesville-focused operators, with Apex and Expand leading both in scale and rig diversity.
Top 3 Counties by Spud Count
1. De Soto Parish — 9 wells
- Key operators & rigs:
- Expand Energy (Expand 504, 502)
- BPX (H&P 256, 424, 420)
- EXCO Resources (H&P 528)
- Azul Operating (Precision 582)
- Apex Natural Gas (Precision 609)
- Aethon Energy (Scan Legacy rig)
2. Caddo Parish — 3 wells
- Key operators & rigs:
- Apex Natural Gas (Independence 336, 335)
- Silver Hill Energy (Independence 303)
3. Red River Parish — 3 wells
- Key operators & rigs:
- Expand Energy (Expand 503)
- Comstock Resources (Patterson 905, Nabors X01)
Key Takeaways
- De Soto Parish dominates drilling activity, reinforcing its position as the core of Haynesville development.
- Expand Energy and Apex Natural Gas are the most active operators, both in well count and geographic spread.
- Contractor mix is diverse, with Independence, H&P, Precision, Patterson, and Nabors all actively deployed.
Author: phinds
