Ovintiv steps up activity in Oklahoma plays Continental Resources to spud Powder River wells Commodity Houston — US land drillers' rig counts are continuing to inch forward, and exploration and production companies are enjoying lower costs as they reap the benefits of efficiency improvements, with increasing activity projected for 2021, top executives said in Q1 earnings calls April 29. Not registered? Receive daily email alerts, subscriber notes & personalize your experience. Register Now "Crude oil prices trading in a tight band around $60 [per barrel] have been supportive of increasing activity," Andy Hendricks, CEO of Patterson-UTI, said. "And looking forward, based on conversations with customers, we now have greater confidence in further improvement in drilling and completion activity."