The count of active oil and gas rigs in the U.S. declined for the sixth straight week as of Aug. 9, according to Baker Hughes, while rig counts in Permian Basin and New Mexico increased again. Permian Basin added 2 rigs in the past week for a new total of 444 (485 a year ago), and New Mexico also added 2 to reach 109 (107 a year ago). It was the fifth time in the past seven weeks for Permian Basin to add rigs. U.S. rig count declined by 8 in the past week to 934 (1,057 a year ago, 967 six weeks ago). Texas lost a rig to fall to 454 (522 a year ago).
In the Permian, Reeves County was down 2 rigs in the past week to 62, Lea, N.M., was up 1 to 56, Eddy, N.M., was up 1 to 49, and Midland was up 1 to 47. Other counties in the Permian as of Aug. 9 were Martin up 1 to 34, Loving down 1 to 31, Howard down 1 to 28, Pecos up 2 to 24 and Ward up 2 to 21.
Oklahoma remains No. 3 among states with 86 rigs (88 last week, 139 last year) followed by Louisiana with 59 (61 last week, 59 last year) and North Dakota with 47 (47 last week, 56 last year). Eagle Ford remains No. 2 among regions with 66 rigs (66 last week, 79 last year) followed by Marcellus with 56 (56 last week, 52 last year), Haynesville with 50 (52 last week, 49 last year), Williston with 47 (47 last week, 56 last year) and Cana Woodford with 45 (48 last week, 68 last year).