Four consecutive weeks of gains in count of active drilling rigs in U.S. came to an end last week. Baker Hughes said as of Dec. 15 there were 310 rigs in Permian Basin (down 3 in past week, down 40 in past year), 308 in Texas (unchanged in past week, down 59 in past year), 100 in New Mexico (down 2 in past week, down 7 in past year) and 623 in U.S. (down 3 in past week, down 153 in past year). New Mexico’s count of 100 rigs matches its lowest of this year (Jan. 6 and Oct. 27).
Oklahoma (up 4 in past week) and Louisiana (down 2) each has 42 active rigs, and North Dakota is fifth among states with 31 (down 1). Among regions, Eagle Ford in south Texas remains second with 53 rigs (up 1) followed by Haynesville with 43 (up 1), Williston with 32 (down 1) and Marcellus with 29 (unchanged).