Louisiana’s oil and gas sector closed the week with steady drilling activity, reflecting a market that is balancing softer gas prices with disciplined capital programs—particularly in North Louisiana’s gas-weighted plays.
Market Snapshot
- WTI settled up at $58.84
- Louisiana Light Sweet (LLS) settled down at $58.71
- Henry Hub settled down at $3.40
- U.S. rig count: +1 to 546
Despite mixed commodity pricing, Louisiana operators maintained their footing across onshore and offshore assets.
North Louisiana: Haynesville Remains the Core Engine
The Haynesville Shale continues to anchor statewide activity.
- Haynesville rigs: 29 (unchanged)
- Key operators and counts:
- Apex Natural Gas – 9 rigs
- Expand Energy – 4 rigs
- Comstock – 4 rigs (DeSoto Parish)
- BPX – 3 rigs
- Exco Operating – 2 rigs
- Aethon – 2 rigs
- GP Haynesville – 2 rigs
- Insight Energy Partners – 1 rig
- Azul Operating – 1 rig
- Magnetar – 1 rig (Bienville Parish)
Outside the Haynesville, Rosewood Operating added one rig in Claiborne Parish, bringing North Louisiana’s total to 30 rigs.
What this means: Operators are prioritizing high-deliverability gas acreage with proven infrastructure, keeping activity resilient even as Henry Hub prices softened.
South Louisiana: Stable, Low-Volume Continuity
- Rig count: 8 rigs (steady)
- Active operators include: Magnetar Operating, ExxonMobil, and Wagner Oil
South Louisiana remains a smaller—but consistent—contributor, supporting conventional and mixed portfolios without aggressive expansion.
Offshore: Gulf of Mexico Holds the Line
- Offshore rigs: 9 (unchanged)
- Permitting: 1 new offshore permit issued to Shell
- Onshore permits: None this week, attributed to the holiday period
Offshore activity continues its measured cadence, underscoring long-cycle project discipline in the Gulf of Mexico.
Statewide Picture
- Total Louisiana rigs: 47 (unchanged)
The flat count signals a wait-and-see posture—operators are executing current programs while watching price signals and seasonal permitting normalize.
Why This Matters
- Gas-led resilience: The Haynesville’s scale and infrastructure keep North Louisiana activity durable.
- Capital discipline: Flat counts across regions suggest operators are protecting returns rather than chasing volumes.
- Service planning: Stable rigs mean predictable demand for drilling, completions, logistics, and midstream services—especially in North Louisiana parishes.
