The count of active oil and gas drilling rigs declined last week in U.S., but Texas registered a small gain. Houston-based Baker Hughes said as of April 26 there were 613 rigs in U.S. (down 6 in past week, down 142 in past year), 297 in Texas (up 1 in past week, down 80 in past year), 107 in New Mexico (down 1 in past week, unchanged from a year ago), and 317 in Permian Basin (down 1 in past week, down 44 in past year). The count of U.S. oil-directed rigs (506) declined by 5 in the past week (down 85 in past year). Texas was the only major producing state to add at least 1 rig last week.
Eddy County (56 rigs) and Lea County (48) in New Mexico continue to lead the Permian Basin followed by Martin with 34 (down 1 in past week), Reeves with 26 (up 1), Loving with 23 (unchanged) and Midland with 22 (unchanged). Others include Reagan with 16 (up 2), Upton with 15 (down 2), Culberson and Ward each with 11, and Howard with 10.
Oklahoma remains No. 3 among states with 45 (unchanged in past week, down 8 in past year) followed by Louisiana with 36 (down 4 in past week, down 24 in past year) and North Dakota with 32 (unchanged in past week, down 7 in past year). Eagle Ford in south Texas remains No. 2 among regions with 55 rigs (unchanged from past week, down 12 in past year) followed by Haynesville with 34 (unchanged in past week, down 29 in past year), Williston also with 34 (unchanged from past week, down 6 in past year), and Marcellus with 29 (down 1 in past week, down 13 in past year).