Texas and Oklahoma were the only major producing states that added oil and gas drilling rigs in the final week of 2020. Baker Hughes said as of Dec. 31 there were 175 rigs in Permian Basin (173 previous week), 161 rigs in Texas (159 previous week), 65 rigs in New Mexico (unchanged) and 351 rigs in U.S. (348 previous week). Permian started the year with 405 rigs, reached a low of 117 in August and added 50 rigs in fourth quarter. Texas started the year with 404 rigs, reached a low of 100 in August and added 48 rigs in fourth quarter. New Mexico started 2020 with 105 rigs, reached a low of 41 in September and added 24 rigs in fourth quarter. And U.S. started 2020 with 805 rigs, reached a low of 244 in August and added 90 rigs in fourth quarter – the best quarter since 2017Q2 when the count increased by 116. Texas and U.S. each added rigs for a sixth straight week.
Lea County, N.M., added 1 to its leading total of 34 followed by 31 in Eddy, N.M. (down 1 in previous week), 20 in Midland (unchanged), 17 in Martin (unchanged), 14 in Howard (unchanged), 13 in Reeves (up 1) and 11 in Loving (up 1).
Other leading states include Louisiana third with 43 rigs (58 year ago), Pennsylvania with 19 rigs (24 year ago), Oklahoma with 17 rigs (51 year ago) and North Dakota with 11 rigs (50 year ago). Other leading regions include runner-up Haynesville with 43 rigs (49 year ago), Eagle Ford (67 year ago) and Marcellus (40 year ago) with 26 rigs each, and Williston with 11 rigs (52 year ago).