Permian Basin and Texas each finished the year with a high count of active oil and gas drilling rigs for the year, according to Dec. 30 report from industry services firm Baker Hughes. There were 353 rigs in Permian Basin (352 week ago, up 20.4 percent from 293 a year ago) and 376 rigs in Texas (374 week ago, up 35.7 percent from 277 a year ago). Also, New Mexico finished the year with 102 rigs (103 previous week, up 8.5 percent from 94 previous year), and U.S. finished the year with 779 rigs (unchanged in previous week, up 32.9 percent from 586 a year ago).
Lea County, N.M., finished the year with 65 rigs (down 1 in past week) to lead the Permian Basin count. Other basin leaders include Reeves (up 2) and Martin (unchanged) with 35 rigs each, Eddy with 34 (unchanged), Midland with 32 (up 1), Loving with 27 (unchanged), Howard with 22 (unchanged), Ward with 17, Upton with 15, Glasscock with 11 and Culberson with 10.
Also, Oklahoma was No. 3 among states with 69 rigs followed by Louisiana with 68 and North Dakota with 39. Haynesville was No. 2 among regions with 72 rigs followed by Eagle Ford with 71, Williston with 42 and Marcellus with 39.