Permian Rig Count Holds Flat at 256 for Week of June 18

The Permian Basin added no new active drilling rigs for the week of June 18, holding steady at 256, while the broader U.S. count ticked up by one to 563.

FieldNews Staff | June 25, 2026

According to Permian Basin Oil and Gas Magazine, operators in the Permian Basin reported zero new rigs for the week of June 18, per Baker Hughes data. The basin holds at 256 active rigs, down 15 from 271 a year ago. Texas sits at 261 rigs (up 3 year-over-year) and New Mexico at 97 (up 5). The national count rose by one to 563. Colorado was the only state to add a rig last week, and Texas had previously added at least one rig for eight consecutive weeks before the streak ended June 12.

What It Means for Subcontractors

Flat Permian activity means drilling-side work is not expanding right now, making competition for rig-adjacent contracts tighter in the basin.
The year-over-year decline of 15 Permian rigs is a meaningful signal for service companies budgeting into the second half of 2026.
Secondary basins like Haynesville (55 rigs) and Eagle Ford (44 rigs) may be worth targeting if Permian opportunities stay constrained.

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Sources

Permian Basin Oil and Gas Magazine

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