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U.S. drilling activity edged lower this week as a decline in natural gas rigs outweighed another increase in oil drilling.
The U.S. rig count fell by one to 598 for the week ended October 2, according to the latest Baker Hughes North America Rig Count Report.
Despite the weekly decline, the U.S. has 49 more rigs operating than the 549 working during the comparable week last year, an increase of nearly 9%.
Oil rigs increased by one to 456, while natural gas rigs declined by two to 133. Miscellaneous rigs were unchanged at nine.
Compared with a year ago, the U.S. is running 34 more oil rigs and 15 more natural gas rigs.
The pullback comes during another volatile week for energy markets.
WTI crude was trading around US$90.85 per barrel Friday, while Brent was near US$100.50. Oil fell after European countries agreed to release emergency fuel stocks in an effort to ease pressure on global energy markets.
U.S. natural gas was trading around US$2.92 per MMBtu, remaining below the US$3 threshold despite gas-directed drilling running well above year-ago levels.
Baker Hughes data show the weekly decline was relatively concentrated.
Texas lost three rigs to fall to 278, although the state still has 34 more rigs operating than it did a year ago. Louisiana and Wyoming each added one.
Offshore activity strengthened, with the U.S. offshore count increasing by two to 10 rigs. The Gulf of Mexico also added two to reach eight.
Among the major basins, the Permian was unchanged at 270 rigs, but remains 19 rigs above its year-ago level. The Eagle Ford lost one rig to fall to 49.
The Haynesville remains one of the strongest year-over-year stories in U.S. drilling. Its 56 active rigs are 17 above the 39 operating a year ago, an increase of more than 40%.
The broader U.S. trend also remains stronger than this week’s one-rig decline suggests.
The national fleet stood at 588 rigs on September 4. Four weeks later, it sits at 598—a net increase of 10 rigs.
And with 49 more rigs working than a year ago, producers continue to expand activity across both oil and natural gas.
The commodity backdrop remains supportive for oil drilling, even after Friday’s crude-price decline. Natural gas economics are less compelling at current benchmark prices, making the continued year-over-year strength in gas drilling particularly notable.
For now, the U.S. rig count has stalled just below 600.
But one rig coming out of the fleet does little to change the larger picture: U.S. drilling activity remains materially stronger than it was a year ago.
Source: Baker Hughes North America Rig Count Report, October 2, 2026.
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