Oklahoma holds steady while national rig count drops amid lower oil prices

The continuation of falling oil prices no doubt affected the number of oil and gas drillers across the U.S. as reflected by the number of active rigs reported this week.

While the U.S. slumped by 8 rigs to 1,075, the number in Oklahoma remained at 140.  Nationally, there were 8 fewer oil rigs, dropping to an active count of 877 while the number of gas drilling units remained at 198.

The national count remains higher than a year ago. This week’s count is 151 more than last year at this time when there were 924 oil and gas rigs according to figures released Friday by Baker Hughes Co.

Oklahoma’s count of 140 compares to 534 in Texas where there are two more rigs than a week ago. In Kansas, the count is two higher at 37 compared to the 46 working rigs the state had one year ago according to the Red Top Rig Report.

Colorado added a rig to reach 35 while Louisiana dropped two to hit 65. New Mexico slipped by one to 105 and Wyoming dropped by one to 33.

Of the oil plays, Oklahoma’s Woodfords remained at 8 while the Granite Wash stayed at eleven rigs and the Mississippian continued with 8 rigs. The D-J Niobrara in Colorado and Wyoming added a rig to hit 31. The Permian in Texas and New Mexico saw a growth of one rig to 487. In North Dakota’s Williston Basin, thee count remained at 56,