For the week of January 23, 2026, Baker Hughes reported that the Western Canadian gas-directed rig count fell three to 73 (blue line and text in left hand chart below), two more than a year ago, and the second lowest for this time of year in the past decade. The oil-directed rig count gained eight to 156 (red line and text in right hand chart), 16 less than a year ago, the lowest for this time of year since 2024, and the highest since the week of March 7, 2025.
Of the three western provinces in which gas drilling takes place (table below), two rigs were dropped in Alberta and one lost in British Columbia (BC). In terms of drilling by formation, the losses came in the Alberta and BC Montney for a combined reduction of three rigs.
For the provinces in which oil drilling takes place (table below), six were added in Alberta and two picked up in Saskatchewan. In terms of drilling by formation, Alberta’s oil sands led the way with an increase of five, with the Alberta Duvernay/NGLs in second place with a gain of three. Single rig increases in Saskatchewan’s heavy oil and Bakken were offset by losses elsewhere in Alberta.
