U.S. reversed its four-week decline in count of active drilling rigs in the weekly report of March 17 by Baker Hughes. Counts in Permian Basin and Texas also rebounded. Baker Hughes reported 350 rigs in Permian Basin (343 previous week, 316 year ago), 371 in Texas (366 previous week, 320 year ago), 106 in New Mexico (103 previous week, 97 year ago) and 754 in U.S. (746 previous week, 663 year ago). In U.S. in the past week, oil-directed rigs declined by 1 to 589, and gas-directed rigs increased by 9 to 162.
Lea County, N.M., remains the Permian leader with 53 rigs (down 2 in past week) followed closely by Eddy, N.M., with 52 after adding 6 rigs in the past week. Other basin leaders include Martin with 42 (up 3), Reeves with 39 (up 1), Midland with 28 (up 2), Loving with 24 (down 4), Upton with 19 (down 1) and Howard with 18 (down 2).
Oklahoma is No. 3 among states as of March 17 with 62 rigs (up 1 in past week) followed by Louisiana with 57 (down 2) and North Dakota with 41 (unchanged). Eagle Ford is No. 2 among regions with 70 rigs (down 2) followed by Haynesville with 67 (unchanged), Williston with 42 (unchanged) and Marcellus with 40 (up 5).