The number of active producing wells in the U.S. remains largely consistent, though numbers suffered a slight decline from 2022 to 2023. According to World Oil’s data compiled from state agencies, the total number declined 0.1%, from 564,047 in 2022 to 563,275 in 2023.
Texas, like most regions of the country, saw little significant change to final well counts between 2022 and 2023, rising from 166,412 to 166,429—a negligible percentage difference. Just over 90% of wells remain on artificial lift. Districts 1, 4, 7B and 9 all saw drops in well count—District 9 with the largest, at a 576-well loss—while the remaining eight districts posted slight increases. In District 8, the heart of the Permian basin, active oil wells rose 0.6% to 54,860, accounting for 33% of the state’s total.
Southeast. The largest state in this region, Louisiana, experienced a 1.7% decline in 2023, tallying 26,333 active producing wells, compared with 26,787 in 2022. Northern Louisiana’s total declined 1.3% in 2023, to 18,384. Southern Louisiana saw a more noticeable decline, 2.6%, for active wells in 2023, at 7,949. A breakout of how many wells are on artificial lift is not available from the state. Meanwhile, active producers in Arkansas slipped 0.3%, to 7,636. Mississippi’s total was nearly even at 1,585.
Northeast. In this region, Pennsylvania saw a modest gain in active producers, to achieve a new total of 20,815 wells, up 0.7%. Meanwhile, Ohio stayed nearly even, losing just 0.3% while tallying 32,143 wells, of which 98.4% are on artificial lift. To the southeast, in West Virginia, active oil wells stayed even, according to the state agency. And to the north, in New York state, oil producers were down only 1.1%, at 3,518, and all were on artificial lift.
Midwest. Oil-producing wells remained relatively stable in this region during 2023. Illinois had a slight decrease of 1.5%, to 20,321 active oil wells. On the other hand, Kentucky saw a slight increase of 1.3%, at 18,660 wells. All wells in both states are on artificial lift. Indiana had a moderate decline, with active wells totaling 4,042, down 2.6%. Michigan saw a higher attrition rate of old wells, losing 400, or 10.4%, for a new total of 3,450.
Mid-continent. The story in this region is one of mostly increases, save for Kansas. In that state, active oil wells dropped 3.9% to 47,372, despite a steady level of shallow oil drilling by operators. In contrast, the region’s greatest success story is North Dakota, which saw its oil producers increase 4.5%, to 18,600, as operators increased drilling and development in the Bakken shale. This state has one of the country’s highest proportions of oil wells still on flowing status (11.3%), again reflecting recent drilling efforts. In Oklahoma, companies managed to squeeze out a small increase (+1.0%) in active oil wells to 77,405, despite a lackluster drilling level. Finally, in Nebraska, producing oil wells were up 0.9%, at 1,417.
Rocky Mountains. Like most of the U.S. in 2023, this region did not have any huge changes in the number of active oil producers. Yet, it was also one of the better-performing areas, with all states up, save one. In Colorado, drilling in the DJ basin/Niobrara shale resulted in a 1.9% gain in active oil wells, to 9,898. To the south, in New Mexico, operators achieved the second-largest annual gain in producing oil wells at 788 (bested only by North Dakota, for a new total of 22,681, up 3.6%. Farther north, Wyoming posted a 0.8% decline in active producers to 9,871, reflecting operators’ concerns about high drilling costs and uncertain commodity prices. In neighboring Montana, producing oil wells rose by nine to 4,178, up 0.2%.
West Coast. In this region, California has the nation’s third-highest number of active oil wells, exceeded only by Texas and Oklahoma. The Golden State’s producing well count lost less than 1.0%, to total 52,149, even though drilling levels last year were only about half of 2022’s level. Up in Alaska, active oil wells gained 1.4%, to 2,039, although drilling of new wells remained level with 2022’s total. With drilling expected to be barely up, a similar small gain in oil producers is likely for 2024.
Federal waters. The Gulf of Mexico well count fell 1.3% in 2023, to 1,620 active wells. There is some hope that this trend will be reversed in 2024 with greater drilling. While the increase in drilling from 2023’s level will only be 2.6%, it will still be the highest number since 2015. Meanwhile, the Pacific OCS saw its active oil producer count drop by three wells last year. Given the likelihood of little or no drilling, a similar or greater drop in producing oil wells is likely for 2024. WO