US Rig Count Gains 3; Shell Payments Highlight Global Scale
North American drilling activity increased modestly this week, while international operator news underscores the competitive landscape.
North American drilling activity showed modest growth for the week ended May 15, 2026, with the US rig count increasing by 3 units to reach 551 rigs running, according to Baker Hughes data reported by OGJ. Canada's rig count held steady at 124 units, bringing the continental total to 675 rigs.
The weekly US gains were driven by oil-directed rigs, which rose by 5 to 415. Gas-directed rigs fell by 1 to 128. On a year-over-year basis, the US count is down 25 units from the 576 rigs working this time last year.
US land rigs, which include Bakken operations, led the advance, gaining 4 units to reach 531 rigs working. Horizontal drilling, the dominant method in shale plays like the Bakken, increased by 3 rigs to 484. State-level changes saw Texas gain 5 rigs, New Mexico add 1, and Oklahoma add 1. Louisiana posted the largest decline, falling 3 rigs.
In related international operator news, Shell remitted a total of $23.84 billion to governments in 24 countries for its upstream activities in 2025, Rigzone reported. Brazil was the top recipient at $4.25 billion, displacing Nigeria. The scale of these payments highlights the global financial commitments of major operators competing in the international oil market.
Also internationally, a leadership change is underway at Mexico's state oil company. Rigzone reported that Petroleos Mexicanos Chief Executive Officer Víctor Rodríguez Padilla is stepping down. The news, framed within the context of Mexico's incoming administration, indicates shifting dynamics for a key North American producer.
For Bakken operators, the modest weekly rig count increase and continued dominance of horizontal drilling reflect steady, measured activity in the US shale sector. The year-over-year decline in the overall US count, however, points to a broader trend of slightly reduced drilling intensity compared to 2025. The international developments serve as a reminder of the global competitive and regulatory environment in which North Dakota producers operate.
Source
OGJ (Baker Hughes rig count data for week ended May 15, 2026), Rigzone (Shell payments summary, Pemex leadership change summary)
