Private operators drive Permian recovery
Strong market conditions are encouraging private producers in Texas and New Mexico to lift drilling activity
All the signs are positive for US shale. The WTI crude benchmark has broken through the $80/bl ceiling for the first time in seven years and the rig count has more than doubled since last October. The post-Covid recovery is well and truly gaining momentum. Strong oil prices have compelled producers to work through their backlog of drilled-but-uncompleted wells, as showcased by the rapidly rising rig count. Last week, the rig count climbed to 533, its highest recorded level since early April last year when the pandemic first started to sink drilling activity. And the Permian basin—the bulwark of Lower 48 oil production—is leading the recovery. The rig count in the basin has recently soared

Also in this section
22 July 2025
Next year’s WPC Energy Congress taking place in April in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia will continue to promote the role of women in the energy sector, with a number of events focusing on the issue.
22 July 2025
Pedro Miras is the serving President of WPC Energy for the current cycle which will culminate with the 25th WPC Energy Congress in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in April 2026. He has over 30 years of experience in the energy sector, including stints with Repsol and the IEA. Here he talks to Petroleum Economist about the challenges and opportunities the global energy sector currently faces.
17 July 2025
US downstream sector in key state feels the pain of high costs, an environmental squeeze and the effects of broader market trends
16 July 2025
Crude quality issues are an often understated risk to energy security, highlighted by problems at a key US refinery