Last week Texas added oil and gas drilling rigs for the first time since May, and the U.S. rig count reversed an eight-week decline, according to the latest weekly report by Houston-based services firm Baker Hughes. As of Sept. 8 there were 320 active rigs in Permian Basin (up 1 in past week, down 20 in past year), 310 in Texas (up 4 in past week, down 49 in past year), 104 in New Mexico (down 3 in past week, down 5 in past year), and 632 in U.S. (up 1 in past week, down 127 in past year).
U.S. latest weekly gain had been July 7 when there were 680 active drilling rigs. Texas last reported a gain May 26 when there were 359 active drilling rigs. Permian was only major basin reporting at least 1 additional rig last week.
Lea County, N.M., reported 2 fewer rigs last week, but remained the Permian leader with 61 followed by Eddy, N.M., with 42 (unchanged in past week), Martin with 36 (up 1), Loving with 30 (up 3) and Midland with 28 (unchanged). Other leaders include Reeves with 25 (unchanged), Ward with 14 (down 3), Glasscock with 13 (up 1) and Reagan with 12 (up 1).
Eagle Ford in south Texas remains No. 2 among regions with 49 active rigs as of Sept. 8 (down 1 in past week) followed by Haynesville in east Texas and Louisiana with 41 (unchanged), Williston with 32 (down 1) and Marcellus with 29 (down 1). Louisiana remains No. 3 among states with 42 rigs (unchanged) followed by Oklahoma with 39 (unchanged) and North Dakota with 30 (down 3).