Count of active oil and gas drilling rigs in Permian Basin increased for third straight week in the Jan. 31 report from Baker Hughes. In the past week, Permian added 1 rig for a new total of 406 (481 a year ago, 405 to start 2020). Permian added 9 rigs in this three-week period. Counts in Texas and U.S. declined, and New Mexico was unchanged (109, 105 to start 2020). Texas was down 2 in the past week to 395 (514 a year ago, 404 to start 2020), and U.S. was down 4 to 790 (1,045 a year ago, 805 to start 2020).
Eddy (57 rigs) and Lea (52) counties in New Mexico lead the basin followed by Midland (45), Reeves (41), Martin (40), Loving (33) and Howard (29).
Baker Hughes said as of Jan. 31 Oklahoma is third among states with 53 rigs with 52 each in Louisiana and North Dakota. Rig counts in other leading regions include Eagle Ford runner-up with 70, Williston with 53, Haynesville with 41 and Marcellus with 40.