The number of active drilling rigs in the Permian Basin climbed to 274 in Baker Hughes's Oct. 9 count, the highest total of 2026, Permian Basin Oil and Gas Magazine reported Oct. 13. That is up four rigs from the previous week and up 24 rigs, or 9.6%, from 250 a year earlier. The basin started the year with 247 rigs.
The latest report extends a steady run. The Permian count has now been flat or rising for 11 consecutive weeks, since its last weekly decline on July 24, according to the magazine. Nationwide, Baker Hughes counted 603 active rigs, up five from the week before and up 56, or 10.24%, from 547 a year ago. The U.S. started 2026 with 545 rigs. The 603 total is the first national count of 600 or more in over two years, since May 2024.
Elsewhere in the report, the Haynesville shale in Louisiana and East Texas stood at 57 rigs, up one, which now puts it ahead of the Eagle Ford in South Texas at 49. The Williston Basin counted 35 rigs and the Marcellus 23. By state, Oklahoma had 51 rigs, down one, ranking third; Louisiana had 38, up two; and North Dakota had 31. The magazine's report did not provide a statewide Texas rig count, oil price context or comments from named company executives, so we are not able to say what is driving the increase beyond the numbers themselves.
For West Texas, the rig count is more than a statistic. Drilling activity in Midland, Odessa and the surrounding counties translates into jobs for roughnecks, truckers, welders and the small businesses that serve them, along with royalty income for landowners and severance tax revenue that helps fund Texas schools and highways. A rising rig count is generally read as a sign that operators are confident enough in prices to commit capital, though that is an interpretation rather than something this report states.
Why it matters to Texas readers. Energy remains the backbone of the Texas economy, and families in the Permian have seen what happens when activity slows. Eleven weeks without a drop is a good sign for them. As always, rig counts can move quickly with commodity prices and federal policy, so one week's number is a snapshot, not a trend line.
Open question: we could not confirm from this report what oil price levels are behind the increase or how many of the new rigs are in the Texas versus New Mexico portion of the basin.