The counts of active drilling rigs from Baker Hughes declined for the third straight week in U.S. and second straight week in Permian Basin. But the count in Texas posted its third straight gain. In the weekly report of Oct. 4, there were 304 rigs in Permian Basin (down 2 from last week, down 5 from year ago), 279 in Texas (up 2 in past week, down 18 in past year), 101 in New Mexico (down 3 in past week, down 5 in past year), and 585 in U.S. (down 2 in past week, down 34 in past year).
In third quarter, rig count was up 1 in Permian and 2 in U.S., but down 1 in Texas and down 3 in New Mexico.
The lead in Permian for Lea County, N.M., narrowed to 1 after a decline of 2 to 49 rigs. Eddy County, N.M., declined 1 to 48, Martin remained flat with 31, Reeves lost 3 to 27, and Midland lost 1 to 24. Other basin leaders include Loving with 22 (up 3 in past week), Reagan and Upton with 14 each, Ward with 11 (up 2) and Howard with 10.
Texas’ neighbors New Mexico, Oklahoma (down 1 to 40) and Louisiana (down 1 to 40) each declined in the past week. North Dakota is No. 5 among states with 33. Eagle Ford in south Texas is No. 2 among regions with 48 (unchanged) followed by Haynesville and Williston each with 34 and Marcellus with 25.