U.S. oil & natural gas producers are drilling longer horizontal wells

In the Midland region of the Permian Basin, the average length of laterals, the horizontal portion of a well, has increased by 58% since 2015. More than 50% of Midland wells completed in 2025 have spanned over 10,500 ft (2 miles) laterally, with the longest reaching 21,276 ft (4 miles), according to Rystad. Advances in technology have enabled producers to drill longer laterals, which can help improve well productivity and capital efficiency. Lateral lengths can vary within and across shale basins. The optimal well design can be influenced by many factors, including geology, other well spacings, and whether a company holds contiguous leases.