Drilling activity in the Permian Basin remains one of the most important indicators of upstream development across North America. Patterson-UTI drilling rigs continue to play a central role in supporting many of the basin’s most active operators, providing the drilling capacity required for large-scale shale development programs.
This report provides a summary of Patterson-UTI rigs operating during 2025, highlighting the number of wells drilled, the operators utilizing these rigs, and the geographic focus of drilling activity across the Permian Basin. By examining rig-level performance and drilling cadence, the report offers insight into how operators such as Mewbourne Oil Company, Chevron U.S.A. Inc., and Matador Resources Company are executing their development programs across key counties in Texas and New Mexico.
The data illustrates the continued shift toward efficient, pad-based drilling programs and factory-style development, where consistent drilling cycles and high rig utilization drive production growth and operational efficiency.
Patterson-UTI Drilling Rig Activity Summary (2025)
1. Basin Focus
Patterson rigs in the dataset operated almost entirely in the Permian Basin, with activity concentrated in:
- Delaware Basin (dominant)
- Midland Basin (secondary)
Most drilling occurred in the following counties:
New Mexico
- Eddy County
- Lea County
Texas
- Loving County
- Midland County
- Reeves County
- Howard County
- Culberson County
This indicates strong alignment with core Permian shale development programs. Patterson 2025 Summary
2. Primary Operators Using Patterson Rigs
The drilling activity is heavily concentrated among a small group of operators.
Largest Operator Customers
- Mewbourne Oil Company
- Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
- Matador Resources Company
Additional Operators
- OXY USA Inc.
- HighPeak Energy
- EOG Resources
- Devon Energy
- Continental Resources
- BTA Oil Producers
- Walter Oil & Gas
- Geosouthern Energy
This suggests Patterson rigs are primarily deployed in large-scale Permian development programs with repeat customers. Patterson 2025 Summary
3. Most Productive Patterson Rigs
Highest Well Counts
| Rig | Wells Drilled | Operator |
|---|---|---|
| Patterson 255 | 26 | HighPeak Energy |
| Patterson 594 | 24 | Mewbourne |
| Patterson 812 | 24 | Chevron |
| Patterson 278 | 23 | Chevron |
| Patterson 260 | 22 | Mewbourne |
| Patterson 562 | 22 | Mewbourne |
| Patterson 804 | 22 | OXY |
| Patterson 284 | 22 | Chevron |
These rigs demonstrate high-throughput shale drilling operations. Patterson 2025 Summary
4. Drilling Efficiency (Cadence)
Typical drilling cadence:
Cadence Interpretation 13–17 days/well High-efficiency pad drilling 18–22 days/well Standard shale development pace 25–35 days/well Slower or more complex drilling 40+ days/well Extended drilling cycles
Most Patterson rigs operated in the 15–20 day cycle range, indicating factory-style shale drilling programs. Patterson 2025 Summary
5. Development Style
The dataset consistently references:
- Pad-based drilling
- Factory-style development
- Multi-county development programs
- Repeatable drilling cadence
This reflects the modern Permian shale development model, where rigs move sequentially across multi-well pads to maintain high utilization and predictable drilling cycles. Patterson 2025 Summary
6. Geographic Activity Pattern
Core Development Hub
The Eddy–Lea County corridor (New Mexico) appears in most rigs.
This area corresponds to:
- Northern Delaware Basin
- Major acreage positions for
- Chevron
- Matador
- Mewbourne
7. Key Takeaways
Operational trends
- Permian Basin dominated Patterson rig activity.
- Delaware Basin accounted for the majority of wells.
- Rig programs focused on repeatable pad drilling.
Operator concentration
- Mewbourne, Chevron, and Matador represent the largest rig users.
Efficiency
- Top rigs drilled 20–26 wells per year.
- Typical drilling cadence: 15–20 days per well.
Strategic insight
This dataset reflects large-scale development drilling rather than exploration, highlighting how Permian operators are maximizing efficiency through high-utilization rigs.
