Baker Hughes reported that the U.S. rig count held steady at 551 active rigs last week, but beneath the headline number, gas-focused basins continued to show signs of renewed activity.
In Appalachia, the Marcellus/Utica added incremental strength. Pennsylvania’s Marcellus picked up another rig, lifting the state total to 20 rigs, its highest level in well over a year. Ohio and West Virginia were unchanged at 13 and 7 rigs, respectively. Combined, the Marcellus/Utica now operates 40 rigs, marking its strongest level of activity in more than a year.
That said, the basin continues to compete for capital and operator attention. Its primary rival, the Haynesville, added two rigs last week after adding seven rigs the week prior, pushing the basin to a new modern high of 52 rigs — 12 more than the Marcellus/Utica.
It’s likely too early to declare a sustained trend, but the takeaway is clear: gas drilling activity is firming across the two largest natural gas plays in the U.S., even as operators remain disciplined.
Top Marcellus/Utica Operators by Active Rig Records
The latest rig data highlights a familiar group of core Appalachian operators, with activity spread across multiple contractors and rigs.
Top 5 Accounts by Rig Record Count
1) EQT Corporation
- Falcon 11
- Falcon 25
- Falcon 8
- Patterson 277
- Patterson 292
- Patterson 294
2) Ascent Energy, LLC
- Patterson 578
- Patterson 581
- Patterson 584
- Patterson 878
3) CNX Resources Corporation
- Falcon 27
- Precision 539
- Precision 575
4) EOG Resources, Inc.
- H&P 385
- H&P 611
- Patterson 577
5) Expand Energy
- Patterson 582
- Patterson 583
- Precision 569
What the Data Says About Marcellus/Utica Activity
Several themes stand out from the current rig lineup:
- EQT Corporation remains the most operationally diversified operator in the basin, running rigs across Falcon and Patterson, signaling steady execution rather than aggressive expansion.
- Patterson continues to dominate as the primary drilling contractor, appearing across four of the top five operators.
- Activity remains distributed across single-rig deployments, consistent with capital discipline and gas-price sensitivity rather than a broad-based ramp.
Bottom Line
The Marcellus/Utica is quietly rebuilding momentum, even as the Haynesville currently captures the larger share of growth. For service companies and suppliers, the signal isn’t a surge — it’s measured, sustained gas drilling returning to Appalachia, one rig at a time.
