# U.S. rig count holds at 603 while Canada adds three rigs

> Baker Hughes data reported for the week ending Oct. 23 show U.S. drilling rigs unchanged at 603 and Canada up to 220, with oil and gas rig counts moving in opposite directions in the United States.

- **Source date:** 2026-10-23
- **Original source:** [SteelOrbis (Baker Hughes data)](https://www.steelorbis.com/steel-news/latest-news/us-rig-count-unchanged-canada-increases-week-43-2026-1486014.htm)
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- **Keywords:** United States, Canada, Oil and Gas, Drilling rigs, Energy statistics, Natural gas, Industry statistics

## The weekly count is flat in the United States

SteelOrbis reported on Oct. 23 that the U.S. rotary rig count was 603 for the week ending that day, unchanged week over week. Within the total, oil-directed rigs rose by one to 460, while gas-directed rigs fell by one to 132. The two changes offset each other; the total count therefore stayed flat.

The reported U.S. total was 53 rigs higher than a year earlier. These figures are from Baker Hughes’ weekly North American rig-count series as reported by SteelOrbis. A rig count measures active drilling rigs, not producing wells, total output, or the number of crews completing wells.

[SteelOrbis](https://www.steelorbis.com/steel-news/latest-news/us-rig-count-unchanged-canada-increases-week-43-2026-1486014.htm)

## Canadian activity rises

Canada’s count increased by three rigs to 220 for the week ending Oct. 23, according to the same report. That was 21 higher than the comparable week one year earlier. The combined direction across the two countries was therefore a modest North American increase, led by Canada while the U.S. total held steady.

Weekly rig totals can move with weather, seasonal access, budgets and drilling plans. A one-week change does not establish a trend or predict production on its own. The report provides a snapshot of active rigs during that week; it does not break out the Canadian increase by basin, operator or individual project.

[SteelOrbis](https://www.steelorbis.com/steel-news/latest-news/us-rig-count-unchanged-canada-increases-week-43-2026-1486014.htm)

## What the oil and gas split suggests

In the United States, the one-rig increase in oil drilling and one-rig decline in gas drilling were small changes in the national fleet. They show that the aggregate remained stable even as the composition shifted slightly toward oil. The year-over-year totals were higher for both U.S. oil rigs and U.S. gas rigs, according to the report.

Rig counts are often treated as an indicator of drilling investment and service demand. They do not translate directly into near-term production because a rig must drill a well before that well can be completed and brought online; productivity and operating efficiency also vary. The weekly data should be read alongside production, inventories, prices and company activity.

[SteelOrbis](https://www.steelorbis.com/steel-news/latest-news/us-rig-count-unchanged-canada-increases-week-43-2026-1486014.htm)

## A useful but limited activity indicator

The Oct. 23 report gives a contemporaneous North American activity measure during a period of volatile energy prices. It can help suppliers and investors track whether drilling activity is expanding or contracting, but it is a count of active rigs rather than a direct measure of oil or gas supply. The U.S. count remained materially above its year-earlier level even without a weekly increase.

The report’s Canada figure is 220, three more than the prior week and 21 above the year-earlier comparator. These totals should not be conflated with monthly international rig estimates or output forecasts. The next weekly count will show whether the U.S. plateau and Canadian increase persist.

[SteelOrbis](https://www.steelorbis.com/steel-news/latest-news/us-rig-count-unchanged-canada-increases-week-43-2026-1486014.htm)

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