Permian Basin added drilling rigs last week for the fourth time in the last five weeks. Baker Hughes, in its weekly report for March 20, said Permian added 2 rigs in the past week to reach 243 (down 57 or 19.0 percent from 300 a year ago). Permian started the year with 247 rigs and declined to 238 in February.
Also as of March 20, there were 233 rigs in Texas (down 1 in past week, down 47 or 16.79 percent from 280 a year ago), 102 in New Mexico (up 1 in past week, unchanged from a year ago) and 552 in U.S. (down 1 in past week, down 41 or 6.91 percent from 593 a year ago).
Haynesville is runner-up among regions with 54 rigs (unchanged in past week) followed by Eagle Ford with 42 (down 1), Williston with 29 (up 3) and Marcellus with 27 (unchanged). Oklahoma is third among states with 46 rigs (up 2) followed by Louisiana with 40 (unchanged) and North Dakota with 27 (up 3).
For the year, the Texas and New Mexico rig counts are up 1 rig each, and U.S. is up 7. In 2026 U.S. oil-directed rigs are up 5, and U.S. gas-directed rigs are up 4.