Permian Basin and U.S. each added drilling rigs for the first time in three weeks, according to the weekly report of Nov. 17 from Baker Hughes. There were 311 active rigs in Permian Basin (310 previous week, 349 year ago) and 618 in U.S. (616 week ago, 782 year ago). Also as of Nov. 17 there were 302 rigs in Texas (302 previous week, 375 year ago) and 107 in New Mexico (105 previous week, 103 year ago). New Mexico is only major producing state with more rigs now than year ago. U.S. added 6 oil-directed rigs in past week to 500.
Lea County’s lead in the Permian Basin narrowed to only 2 over another New Mexico county, Eddy. There were 53 rigs in Lea (down 3 in past week) and 51 in Eddy (up 4 in past week). Other basin leaders include Martin with 40 (down 1), Reeves with 31 (up 1), Midland with 25 (up 1), Loving with 21 (down 1), Ward with 12 and Upton with 11.
Eagle Ford is No. 2 among regions with 50 rigs (51 previous week, 71 year ago) followed by Haynesville with 38, Williston with 33 and Marcellus with 27. Louisiana is No. 3 among states with 39 (38 week ago, 65 year ago) followed by Oklahoma with 37 (37 week ago, 69 year ago) and North Dakota with 31 (29 week ago, 38 year ago).