North America dropped eight rigs week on week, according to Baker Hughes’ latest North America rotary rig count, which was released on August 21.
The total U.S. rig count dropped by five week on week and the total Canada rig count dropped by three during the same period, taking the total North America rig count down to 804, comprising 588 rigs from the U.S. and 216 rigs from Canada, the count outlined.
The total U.S. rig count of 588 comprised 576 land rigs, 10 offshore rigs, and two inland water rigs, according to the count, which revealed that the total U.S. rig count is made up of 452 oil rigs, 127 gas rigs, and nine miscellaneous rigs. The count also highlighted that the U.S. total comprises 533 horizontal rigs, 45 directional rigs, and 10 vertical rigs.
Week on week, the U.S. land and offshore rig counts each dropped by two, and its inland water rig count decreased by one, Baker Hughes highlighted. The U.S. oil rig count dropped by three week on week, and its gas and miscellaneous rig counts each dropped by one during the same period, the count showed. The country’s directional rig count dropped by five week on week, while its horizontal and vertical rig counts remained unchanged during the period, the count revealed.
A major state variances subcategory included in Baker Hughes’ latest rig count showed that, week on week, New Mexico and Louisiana each cut three rigs, Wyoming dropped one rig, and Texas added four rigs. A major basin variances subcategory included in the rig count showed that, week on week, the Haynesville basin cut two rigs, the Granite Wash basin dropped one rig, the Permian basin added two rigs, and the Eagle Ford basin added one rig.
Canada’s total rig count of 216 is made up of 148 oil rigs, 65 gas rigs, and three miscellaneous rigs, Baker Hughes pointed out. Week on week, the country’s oil rig count dropped by three, and its gas and miscellaneous rig counts remained unchanged, the count revealed.
Despite dropping eight rigs week on week, the total North America rig count is still up 86 rigs compared to year ago levels, according to Baker Hughes’ count, which showed that the U.S. has added 50 rigs and Canada has added 36 rigs, year on year. The U.S. has added 41 oil rigs, five gas rigs, and four miscellaneous rigs, while Canada has added 25 oil rigs, nine gas rigs, and two miscellaneous rigs, year on year, the count outlined.
In its previous rig count, which was released on August 14, Baker Hughes revealed that North America added eight rigs week on week. The total U.S. rig count increased by five week on week and the total Canada rig count rose by three during the same period, that count showed.
Baker Hughes’ August 7 rig count showed that North America dropped three rigs week on week. Prior to its August 7 count, Baker Hughes’ rig counts showed a series of North America rig additions. The company’s July 31 count revealed that North America added 16 rigs week on week, its July 24 rig count showed that North America added five rigs week on week, and its July 17 count revealed that North America added 26 rigs week on week. Prior to that week on week increase, the last time Baker Hughes’ North America rig count showed a week on week increase was back in June.
Baker Hughes’ July 10 count showed that the total North America rig count dropped by 10 week on week and its July 2 rig count revealed that the total North America rig count remained unchanged week on week. Before the July 2 rig count, Baker Hughes’ North America rig count had risen for eight consecutive weeks.
Baker Hughes’ June 26 rig count showed that North America added 21 rigs week on week, its June 18 count showed that North America added seven rigs week on week, its June 12 rig count revealed that North America added 10 rigs week on week, its June 5 count showed that North America added eight rigs week on week, its May 29 rig count showed that North America added 28 rigs week on week, its May 22 rig count showed that North America added 21 rigs week on week, its May 15 rig count revealed that North America added three rigs week on week, and its May 8 rig count showed that North America added two rigs week on week.
Baker Hughes’ May 1 rig count showed that North America dropped four rigs week on week and its April 24 rig count showed that North America added one rig week on week. Prior to this, Baker Hughes’ rig counts showed a spate of weekly losses.
The company’s April 17 rig count revealed that North America dropped seven rigs week on week, its April 10 rig count showed that North America dropped 10 rigs week on week, its April 2 rig count revealed that North America dropped six rigs week on week, its March 27 rig count revealed that North America dropped 33 rigs week on week, its March 20 rig count outlined that North America dropped 21 rigs week on week, its March 13 count showed that North America dropped six rigs week on week, its March 6 rig count showed that North America dropped eight rigs week on week, and its February 27 rig count showed that North America dropped 11 rigs week on week.
Baker Hughes’ February 20 rig count showed that North America added two rigs week on week.
According to monthly rig count summary figures in Baker Hughes’ latest count, the North America rig count stood at 807 in August 2026, 783 in July 2026, 748 in June 2026, 687 in May 2026, 679 in April 2026, 733 in March 2026, 773 in February 2026, 742 in January 2026, and 718 in December 2025. The latest count outlined that the North America rig count stood at 739 in November 2025, 741 in October 2025, 728 in September 2025, 717 in August 2025, 707 in July 2025, 687 in June 2025, 690 in May 2025, 725 in April 2025, 786 in March 2025, 836 in February 2025, and 791 in January 2025.
Archived Baker Hughes data, which Rigzone was directed to by the Baker Hughes team, outlined that the North America rig count stood at 751 in December 2024, 789 in November 2024, 804 in October, September, and August 2024, 779 in July 2024, 750 in June 2024, 722 in May 2024, 748 in April 2024, 822 in March 2024, 855 in February 2024, and 818 in January 2024.
This data outlined that, in 2023, the North America rig count stood at 784 in December, 816 in November, 814 in October, 819 in September, 836 in August, 858 in July, 832 in June, 817 in May, 861 in April, 948 in March, 1,006 in February, and 998 in January.
The data outlined that, in 2022, the North America rig count stood at 935 in December, 980 in November, 981 in October, 973 in September, 965 in August, 943 in July, 880 in June, 811 in May, 796 in April, 846 in March, 856 in February, and 791 in January. In 2021, the North America rig count stood at 729 in December, 726 in November, 704 in October, 661 in September, 657 in August, 628 in July, 568 in June, 512 in May, 494 in April, 516 in March, 568 in February, and 530 in January, the data outlined.
Going further back, this data outlined that, in 2020, the North America rig count stood at 432 in December, 405 in November, 361 in October, 316 in September, 303 in August, 288 in July, 292 in June, 371 in May, 598 in April, 904 in March, 1,039 in February, and 996 in January.
Baker Hughes states on its site that it has issued rig counts as a service to the petroleum industry since 1944, when Baker Hughes Tool Company began weekly counts of U.S. and Canadian drilling activity. On its site, the company describes the figures as “an important business barometer for the drilling industry and its suppliers”. The company notes on its site that working rig location information is provided in part by Enverus.