Permian Powerhouse: 10 Counties Driving U.S. Oil Growth and Drilling Activity

Between 2020 and 2024, total U.S. crude oil and lease condensate production grew by 1.9 million barrels per day (b/d). Remarkably, 93% of that growth came from just 10 counties in Texas and New Mexico, all located in the Permian Basin. Production in the rest of the United States—including offshore—added only 130,000 b/d over the same period.


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Two counties in New Mexico, Lea and Eddy, were the standout contributors, accounting for nearly 1.0 million b/d of growth (52%). On the Texas side, Martin and Midland counties added another 0.40 million b/d (21%), while Andrews, Glasscock, Howard, Loving, Reagan, and Ward counties combined for 0.36 million b/d (19%).

By 2024, these 10 counties collectively produced 4.8 million b/d, equal to 37% of total U.S. crude oil and condensate output. The driving force behind this surge remains the Bone Spring, Spraberry, and Wolfcamp formations—the geologic engines of U.S. tight oil growth.

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Wells Drilled YTD in the Top 10 Counties

Recent drilling activity confirms that the same counties leading U.S. production growth are still where operators are most active. Year-to-date (YTD), the breakdown of wells drilled in these counties is as follows:

CountyWells Drilled
Eddy721
Lea598
Martin361
Midland352
Loving281
Reagan201
Glasscock113
Howard111
Ward99
Andrews85

Eddy and Lea counties alone account for over 1,300 wells drilled YTD, underscoring their position as the heart of U.S. onshore growth.


Top 10 Operators by Wells Drilled

The concentration of drilling activity also reflects the dominance of a handful of major operators. The top 10 accounts by wells drilled across these counties are:

OperatorWells Drilled
Exxon (XTO)508
Diamondback Energy300
OXY USA Inc.296
EOG Resources, Inc.210
Devon Energy Corporation172
Mewbourne Oil Company164
Permian Resources152
Chevron U.S.A. Inc.125
ConocoPhillips Company110
APA Corporation105

Together, these operators account for thousands of wells drilled, reinforcing their control over the pace and scale of Permian Basin development.


Key Takeaway

The story is clear: U.S. oil growth remains overwhelmingly concentrated in a small set of Permian counties and operators. While the broader U.S. upstream sector continues to evolve, the data shows that Eddy, Lea, Martin, and Midland counties—alongside leading players like Exxon, Diamondback, OXY, and EOG—are shaping the future of American crude supply.


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