Reflecting the nation’s slow growth in oil and gas exploration, the latest rig numbers released by Baker Hughes show increases in Oklahoma and the rest of the U.S. But it’s clear drillers are not jumping in feet first and are displaying cautious exploration as crude oil prices fluctuate.
Oklahoma’s rig count grew by one in the past week to reach 31 drilling rigs active in the field. The U.S. count increased by 3 to 498.
The oil rig numbers increased two to 387 while the number of gas rigs was unchanged at 103. The latest weekly count nationwide is 244 higher than a year ago when there were 247 rigs drilling for new oil and gas. The total of 498 includes 211 more oil rigs and 34 more gas rigs.
Texas still has the highest count at 229, a drop of one from a week ago. New Mexico’s count grew by one to 75. Colorado was unchanged at 11 and Louisiana stayed at 48.
North Dakota’s count of 19 was unchanged and West Virginia stayed at 10 rigs. Pennsylvania remained at 19 and Wyoming saw its count increase by 3 to 16.
Kansas numbers grew by two to 34, according to the Red Top Rig County published by the Independent Oil and Gas Association in Wichita, Kansas.
Of the oil plays, the Granite Wash in Oklahoma increased by one to four rigs. The Ardmore Woodford increased by one to 3 and the Arkoma Woodford stayed at one rig.
The D-J Basin saw a growth of one to four rigs while the Eagle Ford in South Texas was unchanged at 32 rigs. The Haynesville stayed at 47 and the Marcellus count was unchanged at 29.
The Permian Basin remained the most active at 243 but was unchanged from one week ago. The Utica stayed at 11 and the Williston was constant at 19 rigs.