Baker Hughes’ count of active oil and gas drilling rigs in U.S. remained at or above 500 for the third straight week. As of Aug. 27, there were 508 rigs in U.S. (5 more than previous week and double 254 of a year ago). And there were 249 rigs in Permian Basin (247 previous week, 125 year ago), 232 rigs in Texas (231 previous week, 107 year ago) and 81 rigs in New Mexico (80 previous week, 46 year ago). It was ninth straight week of increasing (or flat) count in Permian.
Louisiana remains No. 3 among states with 49 rigs (49 last week, 34 last year) followed by Oklahoma with 31 (30 last week, 11 last year) and North Dakota with 22 (22 last week, 10 last year). Haynesville remains No. 2 among regions with 45 rigs (45 last week, 35 last year) followed by Eagle Ford with 35 (35 last week, 9 last year), Marcellus with 28 (28 last week, 26 last year) and Williston with 23 (23 last week, 10 last year).
Lea County, N.M., leads Permian Basin with 48 rigs (up 1 last week) followed by Eddy, N.M., with 31 (unchanged), Martin with 28 (up 1), Midland with 26 (down 1), Reeves with 23 (up 1), Howard and Loving with 16 each, and Upton with 15.