February 7, 2025

US natural gas drilling rig count for four major U.S. shale basins; Haynesville, Marcellus, Eagle Ford, and Utica.

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  • The following is a brief description of the rig count trend for each of the basins:
    • Haynesville: The average annual rig count rises steadily from 17 rigs in 2016 to a peak of 65 rigs in 2022. In 2024, the rig count declined to 37.
    • Marcellus: The average annual rig count was as high as 107 in 2012 but trended downward thereafter. By 2024, the rig count had declined to just 28.
    • Eagle Ford: The average annual rig count peaked at 76 in 2012, followed by a steep decline to just 2 in 2020-2021. The rig count grew slightly to 4 in 2024.
    • Utica: This basin remained the least active, The average annual rig peaked at 26 rigs in 2017. The rig count dropped to 10 in 2024.
  • Advances in horizontal drilling technologies, similar to those used in oil extraction, have improved gas production per rig resulting in fewer rigs needed for higher output.
  • The total gas rig count across the four U.S. shale gas basins declined by 22% in H1 2024 compared to 2023.
  • The downturn in 2015/16 was due to low natural gas prices and in 2020 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

See Also:
US Natural Gas Rig Count by Trajectory 2012-2024
Initial Productivity (IP) for Major US Gas Basins 2023
Estimated Ultimate Recovery (EUR) for Major US Gas Basins 2023
Well Depth of Major US Gas Basins 2023
US Dry Natural Gas Production Forecast to 2040

References:
Baker Hughes North America Rig Count, 2024