Permian Basin added 2 drilling rigs in the past week to match its 2022 high count of 352, according to the weekly report of Dec. 22 from Baker Hughes. That’s an increase of 20.1 percent since starting the year with 293 rigs. Also as of Dec. 22, there are 374 rigs in Texas (367 previous week), up 35.0 percent since starting the year with 277 rigs; 103 rigs in New Mexico (107 previous week), up 9.6 percent since starting the year with 94 rigs; and 779 rigs in U.S. (776 previous week), up 32.9 percent since starting the year with 586 rigs.
Lea County in New Mexico remains the Permian leader with 66 rigs (69 previous week) followed by Martin (down 1 to 35), Eddy in New Mexico (down 1 to 34), Reeves (unchanged at 33), Midland (unchanged at 31), Loving (up 4 to 27), Howard (up 2 to 22), Ward (down 2 to 17) and Upton (unchanged at 15).
Haynesville is now No. 2 among regions with 72 rigs (unchanged in past week) followed closely by Eagle Ford with 71 (unchanged), Williston with 42 (up 1) and Marcellus with 39 (unchanged). Louisiana is No. 3 among states with 69 rigs (unchanged) followed closely by Oklahoma with 68 (unchanged) and North Dakota with 39 (up 2).