Count of active oil and gas drilling rigs in U.S. reached 500 in the past week, according to Baker Hughes, for the first time since April 2020. Baker Hughes said as of Aug. 13 there were 500 rigs in U.S. (491 week ago, 244 year ago), 245 rigs in Permian Basin (243 week ago, 117 year ago), 232 rigs in Texas (229 week ago, 100 year ago), and 79 rigs in New Mexico (75 week ago, 45 year ago). New Mexico’s gain of 4 new rigs was the most new rigs of any major producing state last week and its biggest increase since March.
Louisiana remains No. 3 among states with 47 rigs (48 week ago, 31 year ago) followed by Oklahoma with 30 (31 week ago, 11 year ago) and North Dakota with 21 (19 week ago, 11 year ago). Haynesville remains No. 2 among regions with 46 rigs (47 week ago, 32 year ago) followed by Eagle Ford with 36 (32 week ago, 11 year ago), Marcellus with 29 (29 week ago, 25 year ago) and Williston with 23 (19 week ago, 11 year ago). Eleven states have at least 10 active rigs.
New Mexico counties of Lea (up 1 to 46) and Eddy (up 1 to 31) continue to lead Permian Basin followed by Texas counties of Martin (up 3 to 28), Midland (down 1 to 27), Reeves (down 3 to 23), Howard (down 1 to 16), Upton (up 1 to 16), and Loving (down 1 to 14).
For more information on current rig counts and permits, go to https://pboilandgasmagazine.com/map/