pages 56-57_Layout 1 5/7/2021 3:22 PM Page 1 By Matt Johnson and Mark Rossano HOUSTON-The U.S. oil and gas industry has survived some huge market shocks during the past year, but even through adversity, the industry has persisted and remains on a path of growth for 2021. The pace of hydraulic fracturing activity has rebounded rather spectacularly since last May 15-when the number of active spreads was 45 (an historic low point that was briefly touched again in February, but only after the extraordinary " deep freeze " weather anomaly sent frac activity to zero across most of Texas and surrounding areas). As the industry entered the fourth quarter of 2020, completion activity accelerated to reach its normal seasonal peak by mid-December. The beginning of 2021 started off like any other year, with a steady rise throughout January, as work commenced following the holiday season. Activity ground to a halt in February with the frigid weather in Texas, but within three weeks, the frac spread count did not merely close the gap, but exploded through the other side. U.S. Frac Spread Count (2020 versus 2021 to date) 400 350 Frac Spreads 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 y uar Jan ary bru Fe rch Ma ril Ap 56 THE AMERICAN OIL & GAS REPORTER y Ma e Jun y Jul t gus Au ber em pt Se er tob Oc er mb ve No er mb ce De