February 7, 2025
US natural gas drilling rig count for four major U.S. shale basins; Haynesville, Marcellus, Eagle Ford, and Utica:
- 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:
Well Depth of Major US Gas Basins 2023
References: