The U.S. rig count increased slightly in the past week according the weekly review provided by Enverus Rig Analytics.
The Austin, Texas company said its study of rig activity showed an increase of five to 431 as of Jan. 27. That represents a 9% increase over the past month. However, the number remains 48% below the count of one year ago.
The biggest increase in rig numbers happened in the Gulf Coast Basin where the count increased by four to 44. Two of the new rigs are from EOG Resources which has one each in Karnes and Gonzales Counties of Texas.
Enverus stated that EOG now has seven rigs operating in the basin which is its highest count since April 2020. The company remains the most active in the region followed by ConocoPhillips with four, BP with three and Marathon Oil with three rigs.
Month over month, the increase has been largest in the Permian, with 14 rigs added. Occidental increased its rig count by three to 12. Pioneer Natural Resources also added three rigs and is now running 19. After a more than a two-month drilling hiatus, Surge Operating mobilized two rigs in the last month.
Based on the analysis provided by Enverus, there was no increased rig activity in the Anadarko Basin which includes Oklahoma.
Appalachia is also up on the month, with five additional rigs putting the region’s total at 40. Southwestern has added two rigs since the start of the year, with five running currently. After running one rig during Q4, Antero Resources increased its count by one. Range Resources also added a rig in early 2021 and is now running three.
Source: Enverus
