After a loss of 10 active drilling rigs last week, U.S. reversed the decline by adding 5 in the latest report from service firm Baker Hughes. In its weekly report of Dec. 5, Baker Hughes said there were 549 rigs in U.S. – up 5 from the 544 of last week but down 40 or 6.8 percent from the 589 of a year ago. U.S. has added rigs in four of the last five weeks.
Also as of Dec. 5, there were 251 rigs in Permian Basin (unchanged from the previous week, down 53 or 17.4 percent from the 304 rigs of a year ago), 226 rigs in Texas (unchanged from the previous week, down 60 or 20.97 percent from the 286 rigs of a year ago) and 107 rigs in New Mexico (up 1 in past week, up 5 in past year).
Haynesville lengthened its lead as runner-up among regions with 41 rigs (unchanged in past week, up 11 in past year) while Eagle Ford in south Texas reported 38 rigs (down 1 in past week, down 10 in past year). Williston (29 rigs) and Marcellus (24) complete the top five regions. Among states, Louisiana is third with 46 rigs (up 4) followed by Oklahoma with 41 (unchanged) and North Dakota with 27 (unchanged).