Western Canada’s active oil-directed rig count jumped by 11 rigs for the week ending May 22, to 85 rigs, eclipsing 69 rigs that were active at this time last year, which was the prior five-year high for this time of year, according to Baker Hughes data. The Western Canada natural gas-directed active rig count was unchanged for the week at 48 active rigs, five more than at this time last year.
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- Analyst Insight
Canadian Rig Counts - Gas Rig Count May Have Bottomed, Oil Rig Count Down By 6
The Western Canadian rig count fell by 5 rigs for the week ending April 17, according to Baker Hughes data. The gas-directed rig count was up 1 to 53 rigs (blue line in left-hand chart below), while the oil-directed rig count was down 6 to 75 rigs (red line in right-hand chart below). After following last year's rig count quite closely so far in 2026, the gas-directed rig count has recently plateaued and is now ahead of this time last year by 6 rigs, while the oil-directed rig count was 6 rigs below this time last year, and continued its typical decline during spring break-up season.
- Analyst Insight
Canadian Rig Counts - Oil Down, Gas Flat, as Spring Break-Up Approaches
For the week ending March 13th, 2026, Baker Hughes reported that the Western Canadian gas-directed rig count was unchanged week-over-week at 65, while the Western Canadian oil-directed rig count fell by 9 week-over-week to 129 active rigs.
- Analyst Insight
Canadian Rig Count - Gas Rigs Up 1, Oil Rigs Down 1 Last Week
Baker Hughes' Canadian rig count for the week ending Friday May 15 showed the gas-directed active rig count rise by one last week to 48 (vs. 47 this time last year). while the oil-directed active rig count dropped by one to 74 rigs, but is still two rigs above the level a year ago, which was the prior five-year high for this time of year.
