As of March 15, 2026, global oil markets are buzzing with Brent crude prices climbing to $103.82 per barrel, marking a significant milestone above the $100 threshold amid ongoing geopolitical tensions and supply disruptions in key regions like the Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude is hovering just below at $99.30, reflecting a volatile yet upward-trending market.
This price surge, driven by factors such as Iran’s reported mining activities in critical waterways and a broader recovery from earlier dips, has injected optimism into the U.S. energy sector.
One clear indicator of this renewed confidence is the uptick in drilling activity, with the latest Baker Hughes rig count showing a modest increase that signals potential growth in domestic production.
Rig Count Overview: A Sign of Sector Revival
The U.S. rig count for the week ending March 13, 2026, stands at 553 active rigs, up by 2 from the previous week but down 39 compared to the same period in 2025.
rigcount.bakerhughes.com
This marks the second consecutive weekly gain, with oil rigs rising by 1 to 412 (their highest since early February) and gas rigs also up by 1 to 133 (highest since late February).
Miscellaneous rigs remain steady at 8.
The breakdown highlights a heavy emphasis on oil-directed drilling, accounting for about 75% of total activity, as operators respond to elevated prices by ramping up exploration and production efforts.
Breakdown by Basin
The Permian Basin continues to dominate U.S. drilling, leading the charge with increased activity amid high oil prices. Here’s a detailed look at major basins, including changes week-over-week (WoW) and rig types where available (primarily oil-focused in most basins, with gas prominent in Haynesville and Marcellus):
|
Basin
|
Total Rigs
|
Oil Rigs
|
Gas Rigs
|
WoW Change
|
Notes
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Permian (TX/NM)
|
241
|
~230 (est.)
|
~11 (est.)
|
+1 (from recent data)
|
Largest basin; oil-heavy, driving national growth.
oilpriceapi.com
|
|
Haynesville (LA/TX)
|
54
|
~10 (est.)
|
~44 (est.)
|
+1
|
Gas-focused; highest since May 2023.
reuters.com
|
|
Eagle Ford (TX)
|
40
|
~35 (est.)
|
~5 (est.)
|
0
|
Balanced oil/gas; stable activity.
pboilandgasmagazine.com
|
|
Williston (ND/MT)
|
26
|
~24 (est.)
|
~2 (est.)
|
-1
|
Oil-dominant; lowest since November 2021.
reuters.com
|
|
Marcellus (PA/WV)
|
26
|
~2 (est.)
|
~24 (est.)
|
0
|
Primarily gas.
pboilandgasmagazine.com
|
|
Cana Woodford (OK)
|
21
|
~15 (est.)
|
~6 (est.)
|
-1
|
Mixed; slight decline.
oilandgas360.com
|
|
DJ-Niobrara (CO/WY)
|
10
|
~8 (est.)
|
~2 (est.)
|
+1
|
Oil-focused uptick.
oilandgas360.com
|
|
Ardmore Woodford (OK)
|
2
|
~1 (est.)
|
~1 (est.)
|
0
|
Small-scale, stable.
oilandgas360.com
|
|
Arkoma Woodford (OK/AR)
|
3
|
~2 (est.)
|
~1 (est.)
|
0
|
Minimal change.
oilandgas360.com
|
|
Barnett (TX)
|
1
|
~0 (est.)
|
~1 (est.)
|
0
|
Gas-oriented, low activity.
oilandgas360.com
|
|
Granite Wash (TX/OK)
|
(Included in others)
|
–
|
–
|
+1 (partial)
|
Minor basin with recent gain.
oilandgas360.com
|
(Note: Oil/gas estimates are derived from basin characteristics and national totals; exact per-basin splits are not always publicly detailed but align with predominant resource types.)
Breakdown by State
|
State
|
Total Rigs
|
WoW Change
|
% of Total
|
Oil/Gas Split (Est.)
|
Notes
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Texas (TX)
|
234
|
-2
|
42.3%
|
Oil: ~200, Gas: ~34
|
Permian and Eagle Ford dominant; slight dip but still leads.
oilpriceapi.com
|
|
New Mexico (NM)
|
101
|
+1
|
18.3%
|
Oil: ~90, Gas: ~11
|
Permian focus; steady growth.
oilpriceapi.com
|
|
Oklahoma (OK)
|
44
|
-1
|
8.0%
|
Oil: ~30, Gas: ~14
|
Woodford plays; mixed.
oilpriceapi.com
|
|
Louisiana (LA)
|
40
|
+4
|
7.2%
|
Oil: ~10, Gas: ~30
|
Haynesville boost.
oilpriceapi.com
|
|
North Dakota (ND)
|
24
|
-1
|
4.3%
|
Oil: ~22, Gas: ~2
|
Williston core; minor decline.
oilpriceapi.com
|
|
Pennsylvania (PA)
|
~20 (est.)
|
0
|
~3.6%
|
Oil: ~2, Gas: ~18
|
Marcellus gas.
pboilandgasmagazine.com
|
|
Colorado (CO)
|
~10 (est.)
|
+1 (partial)
|
~1.8%
|
Oil: ~8, Gas: ~2
|
DJ-Niobrara up.
oilandgas360.com
|
|
Other States (e.g., WY, WV, OH)
|
~64 (est., remainder)
|
Varied
|
~11.6%
|
Mixed
|
Scattered activity in smaller plays.
|
This data underscores a strategic pivot toward oil rigs in prolific basins like the Permian, where higher prices justify expanded operations, while gas rigs see targeted gains in areas like Haynesville.
CEO Optimism: Voices from the C-Suite
With oil prices rebounding, several industry leaders are voicing positive outlooks, emphasizing growth opportunities and market rebalancing. Patrick Pouyanné, CEO of TotalEnergies, anticipates price improvements in 2026, citing growing demand and OPEC’s supply management: “Demand continues to grow… I trust also OPEC countries to manage the situation.”
Similarly, Josef Schachter of Schachter Energy Report predicts oil hitting US$80+ per barrel, potentially breaching historical highs like $147, as the industry struggles to ramp up supply quickly.
Vicki Hollub of Occidental Petroleum notes that sustained prices around $70 could spur production growth, calling it the “sweet spot” for expansion.
These sentiments reflect a bullish undercurrent, with executives from companies like Chevron and Exxon also highlighting sector resilience amid volatility.
Hiring Boom: Opportunities in a Hot Market
The rig count rise and price surge are fueling a hiring wave in the U.S. oil and gas sector, particularly in technical, engineering, and field roles. Texas leads with strong demand in energy, driven by AI investments and infrastructure needs.
Key companies actively recruiting include:Chevron: Seeking wells engineers and other full-time roles in upstream operations.
ExxonMobil: Hiring for advanced manufacturing engineers, data scientists in subsurface/well operations, and optimization scientists in Houston and Baytown.
Enterprise Products: Open positions in Houston’s energy corridor for oil and gas specialists.
Helmerich & Payne: Drilling and field service roles across the U.S.
Citation Oil & Gas Corp.: Accountants and production staff in Houston and Midland.
Oxy (Occidental Petroleum): Safety technicians and field roles in Odessa, TX.
Other notables: Archrock, Liberty Energy, and Schlumberger are posting for pipeline operators, 3D scanning technicians, and senior structural engineers.
Platforms like VAMP AI are streamlining hires in upstream, midstream, and downstream segments, emphasizing sector-specific skills.
With over 7,000 oil and gas jobs listed nationwide, from Houston’s energy corridor to Permian hotspots, the sector offers competitive pay (up to $450k for senior roles) and pathways into renewables.
As oil prices hold firm above $100 for Brent, the U.S. rig count’s upward trajectory suggests a robust 2026 for energy production. For investors, operators, and job seekers, this could be the start of a sustained boom—provided geopolitical risks don’t escalate further. Stay tuned to Energy News Beat for more updates on this dynamic market.
Sources: ziprecruiter.com , X, @usevampai, Grok, glassdoor.com, workforcesolutionsnews.com, thestreet.com, worldenergynews.com, aogr.com, rigcount.bakerhughes.com
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