Permian Basin’s streak of nine straight weeks of adding active oil and gas drilling rigs came to an end last week when its count fell by 1 to 173 rigs. U.S. and Texas counts increased. Baker Hughes said as of Dec. 23 there were 159 rigs in Texas (158 previous week), 65 rigs in New Mexico (66 previous week) and 348 rigs in U.S. (346 previous week).
Lea County in New Mexico is the Permian leader with 33 rigs (up 1 in previous week) followed by Eddy, N.M., with 32 (down 2), Midland with 20 (unchanged), Martin with 17 (up 1), Reeves with 12 (up 1) and Loving with 10 (unchanged).
Third among states in rig count as of Dec. 23 was Louisiana with 43 (up 3 in previous week) followed by Pennsylvania with 19 (unchanged), Oklahoma with 16 (up 2) and North Dakota with 11 (unchanged). Second among regions was Haynesville with 43 (up 3 in previous week) followed by Eagle Ford and Marcellus with 26 each and Williston with 11.