U.S. added 13 oil and gas drilling rigs last week, according to the Oct. 16 weekly report from Baker Hughes, the biggest increase in one week since January before the 2020 global pandemic started in March. U.S. count was 282 rigs (269 previous week, 851 a year ago). Other counts of active drilling rigs were 130 in Permian Basin (130 previous week, 422 a year ago), 123 in Texas (116 previous week, 423 a year ago) and 45 in New Mexico (45 previous week, 111 a year ago). Texas’ increase of 7 rigs was the biggest among major producing states.
Eddy County, N.M., idled 2 rigs, but continues to lead the basin with 23 rigs. Other Permian leaders are Lea, N.M., with 22 (up 2 in past week), Martin with 19 rigs (up 1) and Midland with 16 (unchanged in past week). Louisiana remains No. 3 among states in rig count with 38 (40 previous week) followed by Pennsylvania with 18 (unchanged), Oklahoma with 14 (12 previous week) and North Dakota with 11 (10 previous week). Runner-up among regions was Haynesville with 37 rigs (36 previous week) followed by Marcellus with 26 (25 previous week), Eagle Ford with 16 (13 previous week) and Williston with 12 (11 previous week).