North American Drilling Activity Rises
US and Canadian Rig Counts Rise Across Regions as Oil Prices Remain Supportive
Key Points
US rig count rose to 593 for the week ending Aug. 14, up five from the prior week, with one additional oil rig and four additional gas rigs, marking the highest level since March 2025.
Permian Basin rigs increased to 265 (up two), while Eagle Ford remained at 49 rigs, underscoring a mixed regional shift in drilling activity.
Canada’s weekly rig count rose to 219, with five more oil rigs and two fewer miscellaneous rigs, as seasonal activity picks up; international July rig count updated to 1,096, with land rigs at 847 and offshore rigs at 249.
July’s international rig count stood at 1,096, up from June and year over year, with land rigs at 847 and offshore rigs at 249, indicating broader international activity alongside North American trends.
Oil prices continued to firm, with Brent around 87.94 per barrel and WTI near 81.81 per barrel; Primary Vision’s Frac Spread Count rose to 196 in the week ending Aug. 7, signaling ongoing activity in well completions.
U.S. drilling activity climbed to its highest point since March 2025 last week, with the total rig count rising five to 593, according to Baker Hughes data reported by Oil Price. Oil rigs added one to reach 455, while gas rigs gained four to hit 128 — a sign that drillers are slowly pressing the accelerator as prices hold firm.
The gains were spread across both sides of the border. Canada's rig count jumped to 219 for the week, driven by five more oil rigs, even as two miscellaneous rigs went offline, Steel Market Update reported. Internationally, July's total reached 1,096 active rigs — up from June — with 847 on land and 249 offshore.
Permian Basin Leads as Eagle Ford Holds Steady
The Permian Basin in West Texas and New Mexico added two rigs to reach 265 active, up from 255 a year ago, according to Odessa American. That year-over-year gain of 10 rigs shows the region is still the engine of U.S. oil production growth. The Permian alone accounts for nearly half of all active U.S. rigs.
Not every basin shared the momentum. Eagle Ford in South Texas stayed flat at 49 rigs. That split between regions shows drillers are picking their spots carefully rather than expanding everywhere at once. Analysts call this a signal of stability, not a surge.
Higher Oil Prices Give Drillers Room to Spend
Oil prices stayed supportive during the week. Brent crude traded near $87.94 per barrel, while U.S. benchmark WTI sat close to $81.81 per barrel, Oil Price reported. Those levels are high enough to make new wells profitable for most U.S. producers, especially in low-cost basins like the Permian.
Well completion activity also stayed busy. Primary Vision's Frac Spread Count — a measure of crews actively finishing new wells — rose to 196 for the week ending Aug. 7. That number matters because completed wells are what actually add new oil and gas to the market, not just drilled ones.
Canada Ramps Up as Summer Drilling Season Builds
Canada's rig count of 219 reflects the typical summer pickup north of the border. Spring thaw makes many Canadian drilling sites inaccessible for months. Once the ground firms up, activity jumps quickly. The addition of five oil rigs this week points to strong operator demand heading into the second half of the year, Steel Market Update reported.
The two-rig drop in miscellaneous Canadian rigs kept the net gain modest but still positive. Combined with the U.S. uptick, North American drilling is now trending higher on both sides of the border — a meaningful shift from the flat or falling counts seen earlier in 2025.
Week-Over-Week Gains Point to Cautious Optimism, Not a Boom
The U.S. count of 593 is still well below the 700-plus levels seen during the post-pandemic drilling boom. But it is up 54 rigs from a year ago, Head Topics noted. That year-over-year gain suggests the industry is in a slow, steady recovery rather than a boom-bust cycle.
Analysts say the oil-versus-gas mix will be key to watch in coming weeks. Gas rigs added four this week — more than oil rigs added. If that trend holds, it could signal producers betting on a natural gas price recovery. The rig count data also feeds into steel demand forecasts, since drilling requires large volumes of steel pipe known as OCTG — oil country tubular goods.
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