US Rig Count Rises 5 to 603 as Texas Adds 3, Oklahoma Slips
The U.S. oil and gas rig count rose by five to 603 this week, led by six added oil rigs, Oklahoma Energy Today reports, citing the latest Baker Hughes data published October 9, 2026.
Market Impact
Oil rigs climbed by six to 462, while gas rigs fell by one to 132. Miscellaneous rigs held at nine. Oklahoma Energy Today notes that the national total reflects continued expansion in U.S. drilling.
State counts show where the gains landed. Texas added three rigs to reach 281, New Mexico rose by one to 99, and Louisiana gained two to reach 38. Oklahoma slipped by one to 51, though that is still well above the 40 rigs counted a year ago. North Dakota was unchanged at 31. Colorado held at 12, Wyoming at 17, Utah at 15, Alaska at 12 and California at six.
Appalachian states were flat. Ohio and West Virginia each stayed at nine rigs, and Pennsylvania held at 15. Kansas was unchanged at 15, per the Red Top Rig Report published in Wichita.
The source reports state-level totals only. It does not break out Permian, Anadarko or Williston counts, so any basin read is our inference, not Baker Hughes data.
What It Means for Subcontractors
- Texas and New Mexico (most near-term work). Together they added four rigs and now hold 380 of the 603 total. Our inference: if those additions are Permian rigs, expect new pad, lease road and water-line packages as operators mobilize. Rig adds usually show up as dirt work first, so civil and trucking crews should confirm availability over the next 60-90 days.
- Louisiana (+2 to 38). The two-rig gain is small, but it is the second-largest state increase in the report, behind Texas. Our inference: Gulf Coast pad and access-road crews may see incremental work. Ask existing customers whether the new rigs are theirs.
- Oklahoma (51 rigs, down one week over week, up from 40 a year ago). The year-over-year gain is the stronger signal for steady flowline and pad maintenance work. Our inference: the one-rig dip is too small to change a 60-90 day outlook. Don’t reassign crews based on it.
- North Dakota (flat at 31). There is no rig growth in the data. Our inference: Williston-area work is likely to be maintenance and tie-ins, not new pad construction. Don’t plan expansion on this week’s count.
- Gas-side trades. Gas rigs fell by one to 132, and Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia were all unchanged. Pipefitters and flowline crews tied to gas should expect flat demand near term, not a surge.
- Rig count is a lagging signal. One week of data does not make a trend. Check next Friday’s Baker Hughes release before committing equipment or hiring, especially if your plans depend on a specific state’s count moving.
