The nation lost three more drilling rigs in the past week while Oklahoma remained steady with a count of 63 according to the latest figures from Baker Hughes Co. of Houston, Texas.
The state’s count compares to 118 one year ago while nationally, the oil and gas rig count fell to 351 which is a drop of 514 over the past year. One year ago, the nation had 954 oil and gas rigs and the decline has included 383 oil rigs and 128 gas rigs.
Oklahoma’s most popular oil play, the Mississippian lost one rig to reach four while one year ago, the play at 31 active oil and gas rigs working the northern pat of the state and into Kansas. The Granite Wash, reaching from western Oklahoma into the Texas Panhandle remained even at four. A year ago, the GW had 17 active rigs. The Woodford plays in the state have five active rigs compared to the 12 they had last year at this time.
The Permian Basin, still the nation’s most productive play in west Texas and into southeast New Mexico, dropped by one to reach 141. Last year at this time, the Permian had 258 active rigs. The Eagle Ford in south Texas has 42 rigs, a drop of one.
While Oklahoma’s rig count remained neutral at 63, Texas, the most active of all the states when it comes to oil and gas exploration dropped its count by three to reach 194. Last year at this time, Texas had 412 active rigs.
North Dakota, ranked second nationally when it comes to oil production, dropped one to reach 26 compared to the 118 rigs a year ago. New Mexico’s count grew by two to reach 19. Lousiana added one to hit 48. Kansas put one more rig to work reaching a total of six for the state while Colorado remained steady at 17.
