U.S. oil and gas drillers posted a modest weekly gain according to the industry’s most widely followed benchmark, while production continues to hold near record levels. This points to ongoing capital discipline even as output edges higher. The Latest Rig Counts Baker Hughes reported the U.S. rotary rig count rose 5 week-over-week to 593 for […]
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The latest WellDatabase US Rig Report (dated August 7, 2026) shows the national active rig count rising modestly by 3 week-over-week to 583, up 42 from the same period a year earlier. Oil-directed rigs accounted for the bulk of activity at 427 (+1), with gas-directed rigs holding steady at 127 and smaller contributions from thermal […]
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The latest WellDatabase US Rig Report (dated July 18, 2026) shows the U.S. active drilling rig count at 567, marking a solid +11 week-over-week (WoW) increase and +37 year-over-year (YoY) gain. This reflects resilient drilling activity amid a stable-to-rising trend over the past 12 months, with the count holding in the mid-to-high 500s range. Key […]
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The latest WellDatabase US Rig Report for June 26, 2026, shows the U.S. active rig count rising by 1 rig week-over-week to 550. This modest increase bucks a broader pattern of stability over the past year and comes against a backdrop of sharply tightening crude oil inventories—especially at the critical Cushing, Oklahoma hub—and continued draws […]
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In a major boost for America’s energy security and domestic coal industry, President Donald J. Trump today invoked the Defense Production Act (DPA) to direct nearly $700 million in federal support for coal-fired power plants, new construction, restarts, and critical export infrastructure. The announcement, made during an Oval Office event focused on “Beautiful, Clean Coal,” […]
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A major industrial proposal is advancing in northeast Oklahoma at the Tulsa Port of Inola along the Verdigris River. The Inola Aluminum Smelter—formally known as the Oklahoma Primary Aluminum project—represents the first new primary aluminum smelter in the United States since 1980 and would become the largest ever built in the country. What Is the […]
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U.S. energy drillers added rigs at the fastest pace in years this week, with Baker Hughes reporting a solid +7 increase in the active rotary rig count to 558 for the week ending May 22, 2026. This marks the largest weekly gain in recent memory and extends a four-week streak of increases—the first such sustained […]
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A new analysis from the Energy Institute at Haas at UC Berkeley quantifies what many in the energy sector have long known: the shale gas revolution, powered by hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling, has delivered extraordinary savings to American consumers. According to Lucas Davis’s May 2026 working paper and accompanying blog post, shale gas has […]
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Week Ending May 8, 2026 U.S. Rig Count Edges Higher for Third Straight Week The Baker Hughes U.S. rotary rig count rose by 1 rig to 548 for the week ending May 8, 2026. Here is the Full WellDatabase Weekly Report We recommend getting a Subscription at WellDatabase! This marks the third consecutive weekly increase […]
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When a promising filmmaking career fizzled after a splash at the 1995 Sundance Film Festival, Dan Doyle didn’t head back to the editing bay or chase another producer. He sold his film gear rental house, grabbed his geology degree, and dove headfirst into the oil patch—eventually landing in the wide-open spaces of Wyoming as a […]
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