Ten counties in the nation’s leading oil-producing region have at least 10 active oil and gas drilling wells, according to the weekly report of April 14 from Baker Hughes. Eddy (unchanged from last week with 53 wells) and Lea (up 1 to 48 rigs) counties in New Mexico continue to lead the Permian Basin followed by Texas counties Reeves with 43 (up 1), Martin with 41 (unchanged), Midland with 28 (up 1) and Loving with 27 (down 1). Other Permian counties with at least 10 rigs are Howard and Upton with 19 each and Andrews and Reagan with 10 each.
Permian added 3 rigs last week for a new count of 356 while declines were registered again in Texas (down 2 to 375) and U.S. (down 3 to 748). New Mexico added 1 rig for a new count of 104.
Louisiana is No. 3 among states with 57 (up 1 in past week) while Oklahoma is down 3 rigs to 55. North Dakota is fifth with 40 (unchanged). Eagle Ford remains No. 2 among regions with 68 (down 2) followed by Haynesville with 64 (down 2) and Williston and Marcellus each with 41.
East Daley Analytics said recently this year in Delaware Basin public operators are adding rigs while private operators have laid down rigs. Analyst James Taylor told Midland Reporter Telegram year-to-date as of March 10 public operators had added 16 rigs in Delaware Basin while private operators had laid down 5 rigs. In Midland Basin, publics added 3 rigs, and privates dropped 6 rigs.