Source: The Dallas Morning News
With production near record highs, the Lone Star State continues to prove that fewer rigs don’t mean less energy.
After months of slowdowns and steady rig attrition across the country, Texas is showing early signs of a rebound, adding rigs for the third straight week, according to the latest Baker Hughes data. While the Permian Basin held steady, the state overall saw a modest uptick, continuing a trend that underscores the resilience and strategic importance of Texas oil and natural gas.
Texas posted 244 active rigs as of September 12, up one from the previous week. While still below last year’s count, this momentum is worth noting in a national environment that has seen overall rig counts fall sharply, down 8.6 percent year-over-year. The Permian Basin, the crown jewel of U.S. shale production, held flat at 254 rigs, a reminder that operators continue to focus on capital efficiency and production optimization even in a lower rig count environment.
And while the Permian rig count remains 17 percent below where it stood a year ago, production from the basin remains strong, another testament to how far innovation in horizontal drilling and well productivity has come. In fact, just weeks ago, the U.S. Energy Information Administration confirmed record-breaking oil and natural gas production, driven in large part by Texas. Crude production reached 5.72 million barrels per day in June, the highest since April, while natural gas output hit 36.8 billion cubic feet per day, both leading the nation by a wide margin.
Meanwhile, activity in regions like the Eagle Ford, which added three rigs last week to reach 42, shows that producers are increasingly nimble in allocating resources where they see the best returns.
What these figures show is clear: rig counts alone don’t tell the whole story. The state’s energy producers have become more efficient, more technologically advanced, and better equipped to meet growing global energy demand with fewer rigs and greater precision.
Texas continues to deliver reliable, affordable, and scalable energy to the U.S. and our global partners. Even amid fluctuating rig counts, we are meeting historic demand, strengthening energy security, and leading in environmental performance.
But to maintain this leadership, Texas must be empowered, not hindered, by policy. Decision-makers in Washington and Austin must recognize the long-term value of domestic energy production and the critical role Texas plays in fueling the future. Whether it’s supporting LNG export infrastructure, permitting reform, or investment in pipelines, the choices made today will determine whether Texas can continue to rise to meet tomorrow’s energy challenges.
