Drilling rig count in Permian Basin continues to decline. Baker Hughes said as of Aug. 19 there were 345 rigs in Permian – down 1 in the previous week but up 98 in previous year. The decline of three straight weeks in Permian rig count is the first since Baker Hughes’ reports of July 31, Aug. 7 and Aug. 14 in 2020. Also as of Aug. 19, there were 369 rigs in Texas (down 3 in previous week), 106 in New Mexico (up 2) and 762 in U.S. (down 1).
Lea County, N.M., is the Permian leader with 61 (unchanged in past week) followed by Eddy, N.M., with 42 (up 2), Midland with 32 (unchanged), Martin with 31 (unchanged), Reeves with 30 (up 1), Loving with 26 (down 1), Howard with 22 (up 1) and Upton with 21 (unchanged). Enverus said Pioneer Natural Resources is the Permian leader with 23 rigs followed by Mewbourne with 20, Occidental and EOG with 18 each, and ConocoPhillips with 15.
Oklahoma remains No. 3 among states with 65 rigs followed by Louisiana with 64 and North Dakota with 37. Eagle Ford remains No. 2 among regions with 72 rigs followed by Haynesville with 69, Williston with 39 and Marcellus with 35.