Oil & Gas: U.S. Drilling Operators 2014 vs. 2015

CROFT has started something new this year! As you know Amy Jerina and Jessica Lee have been been writing twice a week for over a year now to bring you the latest and greatest in the oil and gas industry- we will continue to do this, but have decided to add some flavor to the mix. Every week, we will have an additional blog post from a Guest Blogger within the Oil and Gas industry! 

This week our Guest Blogger is Braxton Huggins! Braxton is the CEO and Founder of the American Oilfield Network in Dallas/ Fort Worth and the Media Outreach Manager for RigData

The number of new wells US operators drilled onshore fell by half in 2015 vs. 2014, in line with the YOY decline in rig count, according to the RigData quarterly well count. The news was even worse in a YOY comparison for Q4, down by 63%.

US Well Land Count

The top 20 US operators by land wells drilled accounted for 40% of all wells, and 2015 brought big changes in the rankings. Three of 2014’s top 20 operators—Apache, SandRidge, and Linn Energy, respectively—drilled -79%, -78%, and -71% fewer wells in 2015, dropping them from the top 20 rankings. 

Producers chart

Aera Energy, which drilled the second most wells in 2015, is the only top 20 operator that increased its well count this year. The total number of wells drilled fell by -42% to -66% in most regions, excluding Alaska and Appalachia, with delines of -2.5% and -35% YOY, respectively. 

Although the Midcontinent saw a -58% drop in well count, the Anadarko Woodford and Arkoma Woodford each increased well counts by +18%—the only plays to see an increase in well activity YOY.

Call 1-800-627-9785 to subscribe to RigData’s RADAR (Rigs and Drilling Analytics Report), the leading statistical monitor of land rig market activity or visit www.rigdata.com 

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Posted on Jan 12, 2016 by Chris Smithson

Chief Technology Officer

Mr. Smithson graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology. He joined CROFT’s Engineering Team in 2011, with a vision to improve CROFT products and designs for production equipment. During Mr. Smithson's tenure with CROFT, he was promoted several times, and currently holds the role of Chief Technology Officer. Under his leadership, the CROFT Team has launched multiple new product lines; CROFT’s Chemical Injection System (for which he personally received a patent), Fuel-gas Conditioning System, and Ambient Cooling System, as well as improving the designs of the Gas Sweetening System and Joule Thomson System product lines. Mr. Smithson’s expertise and leadership include consulting on multiple oil and gas projects around the world, plus CROFT’s technology advancements by implementing the latest 3D CAD design/analysis software, product data management, along with process simulation software for Chemical and Hydrocarbon processes. Ultimately, Mr. Smithson’s main focus is to continue to improve CROFT’s products and designs to meet industry demand.

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