Higher crude prices continue to boost the counts of oil and gas drilling rigs in U.S. and Permian Basin. Baker Hughes said in its weekly report May 14 there were 453 rigs in U.S. (448 last week, 339 last year) and 231 rigs in Permian (229 last week, 175 last year). In the past year, rig counts are up 33.6 percent in U.S. and 32.0 percent in Permian. Also as of May 14, there were 216 rigs in Texas (217 last week, 150 last year) and 70 rigs in New Mexico (70 last week, 66 last year).
Lea County, N.M., remains the most active county in Permian Basin with 38 rigs (unchanged in past week) followed by Eddy (unchanged), N.M., and Midland (up 2) with 32 rigs each, Reeves with 23, Martin with 20, Loving with 18, Upton with 12 and Reagan with 11.
Louisiana is third among states with 55 rigs (up 3 in past week) followed by Oklahoma with 22 rigs (up 1), Pennsylvania with 19 (unchanged) and North Dakota with 16 (up 1). Among regions, Haynesville has 48 rigs (up 1), Eagle Ford has 33 (unchanged), Marcellus has 30 (unchanged) and Williston has 16 (up 1).