The U.S. energy sector’s active drilling rig count remained flat at 588 for the week ended Aug. 28, data from energy services firm Baker Hughes showed on Friday.
Total rigs were unchanged from the prior week but rose 52 units, or 9.7%, compared with the same period last year. The count reflects a mixed shift within drilling segments: oil-focused rigs fell by five to 447, while natural gas rigs increased by five to 132. Miscellaneous rigs held steady at nine.
Regional activity showed limited movement. The Permian Basin, spanning western Texas and eastern New Mexico, maintained a rig count of 267. Texas added one rig, bringing its total to 282—the highest level since February 2025.
Baker Hughes’ latest figures follow three consecutive years of declines in U.S. rig counts: 20% in 2023, 5% in 2024, and 7% in 2025. Industry analysts have attributed previous reductions to sustained lower oil prices, which prompted energy companies to prioritize shareholder returns and debt reduction over production growth during that period.
