Nation Gains—-Oklahoma Drops in Rig Counts

The latest figures from Baker Hughes Inc. of Houston and the Red Top Rig Report of Wichita, Kansas show the national rig count gained by 8 in the past week while the count in Oklahoma fell by two.

Baker Hughes reports the national count is up to 885 including 9 more oil rigs reaching 712 and the loss of one gas rig, dropping to 172.  The new count reflects a gain of 479 oil and gas rigs in the past year. One year ago, the national count was 406. Since then, the rig count has swelled by 394 oil rigs and 85 more gas rigs.

Oklahoma’s count slipped by two to reach 118. Texas remains the highest rig count with an increase of 8 to reach 451. Louisiana remained at 62 while New Mexico slipped by one to reach 55 working oil and gas rigs. North Dakota added one to hit 44. Kansas and Colorado each reported 31 working rigs. Colorado gained one and the count in Kansas grew by two.

Of the oil plays, the Permian Basin in west Texas and southeast New Mexico continued to have the highest count at 347 working rigs. That’s an increase of 8 in the past week. The Eagle Ford remained at 83. The Granite Wash in western Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle added one rig to hit eleven. The Mississippian slipped by one to reach 6 rigs. The Woodfords in southern Oklahoma dropped one working rig to hit 9.