The active U.S. rig count increased by one in the last week to 740 as of March 2, according to Enverus Rig Analytics.
The count is up by nearly 3% over the last month and 61% over the last year. The largest week-over-week increase occurred in Appalachia, which gained two rigs for a total of 51. The Anadarko Basin had the largest loss, dropping five rigs for a total of 62.
In Appalachia, Ascent Resources had the largest week-over-week increase, doubling its rig count to four. It is now tied with Range Resources and Southwestern Energy for the most active rigs in the region. Four companies that had no active rigs as of Feb. 23 added one rig each as of March 2. This was offset by four other companies dropping one rig each, including two companies that each dropped their only active rig.
In the Anadarko, Ritchie Exploration had the largest loss, dropping both of its active rigs. Seven companies each dropped one rig, including four that had only one rig running. Four operators added one rig each over the last week, including three that had no active rigs as of Feb. 23.
The most active operators in the U.S. as of March 2 were EOG Resources and Pioneer Natural Resources, each with 25 rigs; Mewbourne Oil with 20; Occidental Petroleum with 19; Devon Energy with 18; and ConocoPhillips with 17.
A total of 16 companies had at least 10 rigs running as of March 2 compared to 17 companies a week ago, as Chesapeake Energy dropped two rigs to a total of nine.
