The U.S. oil and gas rig count increased in the past week but figures from Baker Hughes Co. show the amount of rig activity is still far below a year ago.
Rig numbers provided provided by Baker Hughes show Oklahoma was unchanged at 38 rigs, far below the 71 rigs reported last year at this time. Nationally, the total gained 3 rigs to reach 625 oil and gas rigs. The new count included a decline of one gas rig to 116 while there was a 5-rig addition to oil rigs, reaching a total of 505.
However, compared to a year ago, the U.S. rig count is 159 fewer than the 784 reported last year at this time. The decline over the year included 122 oil rigs and 39 gas rigs.
Texas leads the nation with 306 rigs, including a gain of 3 in the past week. New Mexico is unchanged at 106 while North Dakota aded one to reach 32 rigs. Louisiana stayed at 41 and Colorado was unchanged at 17.
The Red Top Rig Report published by the Independent Oil and Gas Service, Inc. showed Kansas fell by 4 rigs leaving a total of 39 active in the state.
Ohio stayed at a dozen rigs while Pennsylvania saw an addition of one to reacch 21. West Virginia saw no change with 8 rigs and Wyoming was unchanged at 16 rigs.
Let’s compare the oil and gas plays from a year ago. The Permian Basin, where there was a gain of 3 to reach 314 rigs had 350 rigs a year earlier. The Williston, currently at 33, had 42 years 12 months ago.
A year ago, the Eagle Ford had 71 rigs. This past week, its count was 50. The Haynesville, with 39 rigs, had 69 last year at this time.
The Arkoma Woodford, still with no reported drilling activity, had 5 rigs last year while the Ardmore Woodford, also with no activity, was the site of 3 rigs last year. The Cana Woodford had 30 rigs last year but in the past week, the number was down to 18, with a gain of 3 rigs.
The Barnett remains at one rig but a year ago, it had two rigs.
The D-J Basin’s count, according to Baker Hughes, was 14 this past week but a year ago 20 rigs were operating in the play. The Granite Wash had 6 rigs in the past week, improved over the four rigs a year ago.
The Marcellus added a rig in the past week to reach 29, ten fewer than it had a year earlier. Last year, two rigs were drilling in the Mississippian. This past week, there was no drilling activity, based on the Baker Hughes report.
The Utica play was unchanged at 12 rigs, one fewer than a year earlier.
