US Land Drilling Activity Holds Firm Despite Minor Oil, Gas Rig Changes, RBC Says
US land drillers kept the active rig count unchanged at 572 over the week, with only minor shifts between oil and gas rigs, RBC Capital Markets said in a Sunday note.RBC said the Baker Hughes (BKR) US land rig count remained at 572. The US oil rig count fell by one to 436, while the gas rig count increased by one to 127, the note said.Oil rigs increased by eight over the month, while gas rigs added two. The Permian Basin lost one rig to 258, representing 59% of Lower 48 oil rigs and 45% of total US land rigs.RBC said Helmerich & Payne (HP) remained the largest Permian driller with 90 rigs, representing 33% of basin activity. Patterson-UTI Energy (PTEN) operated 33 rigs, accounting for 12%, while Nabors Industries (NBR) ran 29 rigs, or 11%.The note said Exxon Mobil (XOM) led Permian operators with 33 rigs, followed by Devon Energy (DVN) with 22 and Occidental Petroleum (OXY) with 20. Private operators accounted for 44% of active rigs, up from 43% a year earlier.RBC said Eagle Ford activity remained unchanged at 47 rigs. Among drilling contractors, Helmerich & Payne led with 17 rigs, representing 33% of the total, followed by Nabors Industries with 12 rigs, or 24%, and Patterson-UTI Energy with seven rigs, or 14%.The note said ConocoPhillips (COP) led operators in the Eagle Ford with seven rigs, followed by EOG Resources (EOG) with six and Crescent Energy (CRGY) with four. Private operators increased their share to 53% from 38% a year earlier.Haynesville added one rig over the week to 56. Among drilling contractors, Helmerich & Payne led with 11 rigs, representing 18% of the total, followed by Independence Contract Drilling with nine rigs, or 15%, and Nabors Industries with eight rigs, or 13%.Apex remained the largest operator in the Haynesville with 14 rigs, while Adamas operated seven and Expand Energy (EXE) ran five. Private operators accounted for 74% of active rigs, compared with 70% a year earlier.RBC said its oilfield services coverage group advanced 1.1% over the week, while West Texas Intermediate crude climbed 7.8% during the same period.The note said Element Technical Services posted the strongest weekly gain at 15.8%, followed by SLB (SLB) at 11.6% and NOV (NOV) at 6.4%.RBC said Halliburton (HAL) declined 5.3%, Atlas Energy Solutions (AESI) dropped 15.0%, and Liberty Energy (LBRT) fell 27.2%. Its oilfield services coverage group has gained 34.1% over the year, compared with an 8.9% increase in the S&P 500 Index.