U.S. count of active oil and gas drilling rigs remained flat for the week that ended Dec. 2, according to Baker Hughes, while the counts for Permian Basin, Texas and New Mexico declined. There were 350 rigs in Permian (352 previous week, 283 year ago), 371 in Texas (372 previous week, 271 year ago), 104 in New Mexico (105 previous week, 88 year ago) and 784 in U.S. (569 year ago).
Lea County, N.M., remained the Permian leader with 68 after adding 3 rigs, but Eddy, N.M., dropped 4 and fell from runner-up to fourth with 33 rigs. Reeves was flat with 36 followed in third by Martin with 34 (down 1). Other leaders include Midland with 31 (down 1), Loving with 25 (down 1) and Howard flat with 19.
Oklahoma is No. 3 among states with 71 (up 1) followed by Louisiana with 67 (up 1) and North Dakota with 38. Eagle Ford is No. 2 among regions with 71 rigs (flat) followed by Haynesville with 69, Williston with 42 and Marcellus with 39.