Houston, TX – April 29, 2026 – The latest U.S. rotary rig count data shows a modest rebound in drilling activity. According to Baker Hughes, the total U.S. rig count for the week ending April 24, 2026, stands at 544 rigs, up 1 rig week-over-week from 543 the prior week.
Oil-directed rigs fell by 3 to 407, while gas rigs rose by 4 to 129, and miscellaneous rigs held steady at 8. Year-over-year, the total count is down 43 rigs (about 7%) from 587 at this time last year.
WellDatabase’s weekly Rig Report aligns exactly with the Baker Hughes national totals at 544 rigs. As in prior weeks, WellDatabase offers enhanced granularity—including county-level mapping, basin-specific oil/gas splits, permit cross-referencing, historical charts, and operator details—providing deeper visibility into regional activity while confirming the national uptick.
Enverus Daily Rig Count (which tracks more than 95% of the U.S. rig fleet via GPS units and provides near real-time data) shows higher figures than the weekly Baker Hughes snapshot. As of April 27, 2026, Enverus reported 585 active rigs, reflecting daily fluctuations but a similar overall modest downward trend in recent days (down about 1% week-over-week, with a +3.4% change over the past month and a larger -7.1% year-over-year decline). Key basins included Permian (238 rigs), Gulf Coast (64), and others showing mixed movements.
EIA DUC Counts and U.S. Production Numbers
The EIA’s Drilling Productivity Report tracks drilled but uncompleted (DUC) wells, which serve as a short-term buffer for completions when rig activity fluctuates. The latest available data shows U.S. DUC counts at approximately 4,972 as of March 2026, with relatively stable levels and only minor net changes across major basins in recent months.
U.S. crude oil production remains robust and near record levels despite the lower rig counts, thanks to ongoing efficiency gains (higher production per rig). Recent weekly estimates place output around 13.58 million barrels per day (bpd) in mid-April 2026. The EIA’s Short-Term Energy Outlook (April 2026 release) forecasts U.S. crude oil production to average about 13.6 million bpd for full-year 2026—essentially flat with 2025 levels, supported by strong Permian Basin activity offsetting softer trends elsewhere.
What It Means: The slight week-over-week gain in the Baker Hughes rig count (+1 to 544) marks the first increase in three weeks and signals pockets of stability or targeted re-activation amid a broader year-over-year decline. Cross-checks with WellDatabase (exact national match with added detail) and Enverus (daily view at ~585) paint a consistent picture of measured activity. Combined with stable DUC inventories and record-high production per rig, U.S. output is holding strong near 13.6 mbpd—demonstrating continued shale efficiency even as the rig fleet remains leaner than a year ago.
Appendix: Sources and Links
- Baker Hughes Rig Count Overview & Summary: https://rigcount.bakerhughes.com/ (data for week ending April 24, 2026)
- Baker Hughes North America Rig Count Report (PDF, April 24, 2026): Available via https://rigcount.bakerhughes.com/ (7.9 MB report)
- Enverus U.S. Daily Rig Count: https://www.enverus.com/dailyrigcount/ (data as of April 27, 2026)
- EIA Drilling Productivity Report (DUC data & productivity metrics): https://www.eia.gov/petroleum/drilling/ (latest DUC supplement and regional reports; DUC data XLS: https://www.eia.gov/petroleum/drilling/xls/duc-data.xlsx)
- EIA Short-Term Energy Outlook (April 2026): https://www.eia.gov/outlooks/steo/ (U.S. production forecasts)
- WellDatabase Rig Report (https://welldatabase.com/) – aligns with Baker Hughes national totals and provides basin/operator granularity.
- Additional context from Energy News Beat, prior coverage, and industry reports (e.g., Steel Market Update, RBN Energy).
All data cross-checked as of April 29, 2026. For the most current figures, visit the linked sources directly.
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