New Mexico was one of only two states to report gains in rig count in the past week, according to the weekly report of Dec. 13 by Baker Hughes. New Mexico has 104 active drilling rigs – up 2 in the past week and up 4 in the past year. Also, there were 304 rigs in Permian Basin (unchanged in past week, down 6 in past year), 284 in Texas (down 2 in past week, down 24 in past year) and 589 in U.S. (unchanged in past week, down 34 in past year). The only other state to report additional rigs last week was Louisiana. New Mexico has reported additional rigs or flat counts for 9 straight weeks; its last decline in rig count was Oct. 11.
Eddy County, N.M., added 2 rigs in the past week to maintain its Permian leadership with 54 rigs. Other basin leaders include Lea, N.M., with 47 (unchanged), Midland with 29 (down 1), Martin (up 1) and Reeves (down 1) with 28 each, and Loving with 21 (unchanged). Upton reported 13, Reagan 11 and Ward 10.
Eagle Ford in south Texas remains No. 2 among regions with 46 rigs (down 2) followed by Williston with 36 (unchanged), Haynesville with 31 (up 1) and Marcellus with 25 (down 1). Oklahoma is No. 3 among states with 43 rigs (unchanged) followed by North Dakota (unchanged) with 35 and Louisiana with 31 (up 1).