Permian Basin added rigs for the second straight week, according to Baker Hughes’ July 3 count of active oil and gas drilling rigs. That’s the first two-week gain since April. Permian Basin had 443 rigs (441 previous week, 475 previous year). Also as of July 3, Texas had 463 rigs (464 previous week, 526 previous year), and U.S. had 963 rigs (967 previous week, 1,052 previous year). U.S. lost 5 oil-directed rigs in the holiday-shortened week to a new total of 788.
Permian’s top counties in Texas – Reeves (down 2 to 63) and Midland (down 2 to 42) – both lost rigs, but its top counties in New Mexico – Eddy (up 2 to 54) and Lea (unchanged at 45) – combined were up. Other top counties in Permian as of July 3 included Martin (up 1 to 35), Loving (unchanged at 31), Howard (unchanged at 29), Pecos (up 1 to 22) and Ward (up 2 to 20).
New Mexico returned to No. 2 among states with 102 rigs after a gain of 3 in past week (also 99 previous year) as Oklahoma lost 5 rigs for a new total of 97 (141 previous year). Other leading states include Louisiana with 68 rigs (72 previous week, 57 previous year) and North Dakota with 55 rigs (55 previous week, 57 previous year). Other leading regions include Eagle Ford with 71 rigs (71 previous week, 81 previous year), Marcellus with 59 rigs (58 previous week, 53 previous year), Williston with 55 rigs (55 previous week, 57 previous year) and Haynesville with 51 rigs (53 previous week, 49 previous year).
