The growing interest of the nation’s oil and gas industry in the big oil plays in Oklahoma and the Permian Basin of Northwest Texas is reflected by a swelling count of rigs, according to the latest figures released by Texas-based Baker Hughes. More rigs are apparently being taken out of storage and put back into the oil and gas fields.
Oklahoma’s count in the past week jumped by 4 to reach 79 while nationally, the count climbed by 20 to hit 588. The latest national count includes an increase of 19 more oil rigs reaching a total of 417 while the number of gas rigs grew by one to hit 116.
However, the national count is still 169 fewer than the 757 reported one year ago. This week’s count shows the oil rig count is still 93 below last year while the gas rig count is down 77 from a year ago.
Canada’s rig count grew by 8 this week to reach 184.
Baker Hughes indicated the state count in Texas grew by 8 to reach 276, compared to the 342 reported a year ago. Colorado added two to reach 20. Louisiana’s count grew by four to reach 52. In New Mexico, the count remained at 31. North Dakota’s count slipped by one to 34. Baker Hughes reported no oil and gas rig activity in Kansas but the Red Top Rig Report reflected 48 active rigs, a drop of two in the past week but still five more than a year ago.
Oklahoma’s Ardmore Woodford, according to Baker Hughes had no rig activity while the Arkoma Woodford remained at 5 active rigs. The Granite Wash added a rig to reach eleven while the Mississippian notched one more rig to hit three.
The Permian Basin activity jumped by eleven to hit 229, four more than a year ago. The Eagle Ford in south Texas remained at 38.