Helmerich & Payne Claims Top Position in First-Quarter US Land Drilling Rankings
Data analytics firm Enverus has published its US land drilling contractor and operator performance rankings for the first quarter, placing Helmerich & Payne (H&P) at the top spot for total drilled measured depth. Industry evaluation metrics beyond sheer footage highlight a nuanced landscape where drilling speed, lateral length, and rig efficiency vary significantly across top contractors. By analyzing operational parameters alongside total drilled volume, the benchmark provides energy producers with vital insights into drilling automation tools, rig instrumentation systems, and predictive analytics software utilized to optimize well delivery and field execution.
Q1 Performance Overview: US Land Contractors
Helmerich & Payne (H&P)
Total Measured Depth: 15.85 million ft
Total Well Count: 776 wells
Average Penetration Rate: 1,698 ft/day
Patterson-UTI Drilling
Total Measured Depth: 9.51 million ft
Total Well Count: 442 wells
Average Penetration Rate: 1,568 ft/day
Nabors Industries Ltd.
Total Measured Depth: 6.55 million ft
Total Well Count: 331 wells
Average Penetration Rate: 1,629 ft/day
Ensign Energy Services
Total Measured Depth: 4.21 million ft
Total Well Count: 257 wells
Average Penetration Rate: 1,793 ft/day
Precision Drilling Corp.
Total Measured Depth: 3.89 million ft
Total Well Count: 205 wells
Average Penetration Rate: 2,082 ft/day (Highest Drilling Velocity)
While Helmerich & Payne generated the highest aggregate footage across North American basins, secondary efficiency metrics revealed distinct operational profiles among the top-tier drilling contractors. Precision Drilling earned the top spot for pure drilling velocity, leading all competitors with an average penetration rate of 2,082 feet per day.
On the upstream operator side, Exxon Mobil Corp. led all exploration and production companies by completing 5.44 million feet across 229 wells. EOG Resources advanced to second position with 3.39 million feet, closely followed by Devon Energy at 3.30 million feet, Occidental Petroleum at 3.28 million feet, and ConocoPhillips at 2.60 million feet.
Industry analytics indicate that evaluating multi-variable performance metrics—rather than footage volume alone—helps E&P operators account for reporting delays, evaluate rig technology performance, and benchmark contractor execution across increasingly complex lateral well designs.