For the first time in seven weeks, the oil and gas rig count in Oklahoma declined in the past week while the national count grew to reach 857 rigs.
Baker Hughes Co. in Houston announced Oklahoma’s count dropped by one to reach 124. A year ago, the state’s rig count was 63. The increase is indicative of the impact of rising oil and gas prices as well as the increased activity in Oklahoma’s popular STACK and SCOOP plays.
The national count grew by 10 compared to a week ago. The number of oil rigs increased by 5 to reach 688. The number of gas rigs grew by 5 to hit 167. The total of 857 active rigs across the U.S. compares to the 431 reported last year at this time.
Oil and gas activity in Canada fell again. The country’s rig count fell by 19 to hit 99.
The Ardmore and Arkoma Woodford plays in Oklahoma have a combined total of 12 working rigs compared to 5 one year ago. The Granite Wash increased by one to reach 10. The Mississippian remained at 8. The Permian Basin in Texas and New Mexico remained the nation’s most active play, seeing an increase of one rig to reach 340. The Eagle Ford grew by three to hit 78.
Texas remains the most active oil and gas state with 426 working rigs, an increase of 6 compared to last week. While Oklahoma is the second most active state in the nation, Louisiana and New Mexico are tied for third—each with 58 working rigs. North Dakota’s count grew by one to reach 44. The count in Colorado is 29, one more than a week ago. Kansas, according to the Red Top Rig report added 7 to reach 33 working rigs.