Texas remains the U.S. leader in count of active drilling rigs with 455 (454 previous week, 524 previous year), and New Mexico increased its lead over Oklahoma as No. 2. As of Aug. 2, according to Houston-based Baker Hughes, there were 107 rigs in New Mexico (109 previous week, 102 previous year) and 88 in Oklahoma (93 previous week, 137 previous year). Across the U.S., there were 942 rigs (946 previous week, 1,044 previous year), including 770 oil-directed rigs (776 previous week, 859 previous year).
“Muted oil prices coupled with Wall Street’s emphasis on fiscal restraint have combined to slow drilling activity all year long,” the Houston Chronicle said, “but Oklahoma has been particularly hit hard by the slump.”
Rig counts in other leading states included 61 in Louisiana (62 previous week, 53 previous year) and 47 in North Dakota (47 previous week, 56 previous year). Leading regions include Permian Basin in west Texas and southeastern New Mexico with 442 rigs (443 previous week, 480 previous year), Eagle Ford in south Texas with 66 rigs (66 previous week, 80 previous year), Marcellus with 56 rigs (56 previous week, 53 previous year), Haynesville with 52 rigs (51 previous week, 48 previous year), Cana Woodford with 48 rigs (49 previous week, 68 previous year) and Williston with 47 rigs (47 previous week, 56 previous year).
In the Permian Basin, Reeves with 64 rigs (unchanged in past week) and Lea, N.M., with 55 rigs (unchanged in past week) remain the leading counties. Other top counties include Eddy, N.M., with 48 rigs (down 2 in past week), Midland with 46 rigs (up 2 in past week), Martin with 33 (down 4), Loving with 32 (up 2), Howard with 29 (up 1) and Pecos with 22 (unchanged in past week).
