Canadian Rig Counts: Oil Rig Count Now 51% Above Prior Ten-Year Seasonal High

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.

In Western Canada the oil-directed rig count increased by six this week, to 113 active rigs, which is 32% higher than the prior 10-year high for this time of year, while the gas-directed rig count increased by one to 54 rigs this week, in line with the prior five-year high for this time of year.

For the week ending March 27, 2026, Baker Hughes reported that the Western Canadian gas-directed rig count fell by 5 rigs week-over-week, to 58 active rigs (blue line and text in left hand chart below), while the Western Canadian oil-directed rig count dropped by 19 week-over-week to 93 active rigs (red line and text in right hand chart below). At 58 rigs, the gas-directed rig count is 4 higher than this time last year, but well below the prior five-year high for this time of year of 81 in 2023, while the oil-directed rig count is 14 lower than at this time in 2025, which was the previous five-year high for this time of year. Rig counts in Western Canada tend to decline this time of year, especially oil-directed rig counts, as "spring break-up" season gets underway. Despite very strong oil prices, unseasonably warm weather through much of February and March has likely triggered a relatively early spring break-up season for oil drilling.