Rotary rig count in the U.S. by type 2011-2023

At the end of 2023, there were 500 active rotary oil rigs compared with 120 gas rigs in the United States. The total rotary rig count in the country was 622. Between 2011 and 2023, the number of rigs used within the oil and gas industry saw a net decrease, with the discrepancy between operational oil and gas wells growing more pronounced. The decrease noted between 2019 and 2020 is a direct result of lower fuel demand during the coronavirus pandemic.

Number of oil and gas rigs worldwide

The number of global oil rigs has more than halved since the early 2010’s when surging oil demand and new technological means such as horizontal drilling resulted in the active use of around 3,500 oil rigs being used every year. The overall peak in average annual oil rigs was reported in 1981, at over 5,600 units. North America is the region with the highest number of oil and gas rigs.

Well decommissioning

The United States is expected to become the second-largest market for oil and gas well decommissioning. An estimated 13 percent of the global oil rig decommissioning spending between 2019 and 2028 is forecast to be contributed by the U.S. As many governments are setting their target on a net zero economy by at least 2050, drilling activity will need to be drastically reduced.