New Mexico and Oklahoma were the only major producing states to add oil and gas drilling rigs in the past week, according to Baker Hughes in its weekly report of May 21. New Mexico was up 2 rigs to 70, and Oklahoma was up 4 to 26. Baker Hughes said there were 455 rigs in U.S. (453 previous week), 214 rigs in Texas (216 previous week) and 231 rigs in Permian (unchanged). All five are above rig counts of one year ago.
Louisiana is No. 3 among states with 53 rigs (55 previous week) followed by Pennsylvania with 19 and North Dakota with 16. Haynesville is No. 2 among regions with 47 rigs (48 previous week) followed by Eagle Ford with 32, Marcellus with 30, Williston with 16 and Cana Woodford with 15.
Nine counties in Permian have at least 10 rigs, led by 37 in Lea and 35 in Eddy (up 3 in past week). Others include Midland with 32 rigs, Reeves with 22, Loving and Martin with 18 each, Upton with 12, Reagan with 11 and Howard with 10.