While the U.S. has become the largest producer of crude oil in the world, the number of drilling rigs dropped by two in the past week to settle to 619 according to the latest Baker Hughes Co. report released on Friday.
The number of oil drilling rigs was unchanged at 499 while the number of gas rigs fell two to 117. The U.S. total is 140 fewer than a year ago when the nation had 759 active oil and gas rigs. The decline included 100 oil rigs and 41 gas rigs.
Oklahoma was unchanged with a total count of 42 rigs, still far below the 64 rigs reported one year ago. Texas is still on top of the country when it comes to the number of active rigs with 303, a drop of one over the past week.
New Mexico’s count fell one to 98 while North Dakota, the nation’s number two oil-producing state, was unchanged at 32 rigs.
Colorado saw no change with its 16 rigs. The Red Top Rig Report showed Kansas added 3 to reach 39 total rigs. Other states saw no changes in their totals—Ohio at 13, Pennsylvania with 21, West Virginia had 8 and Wyoming stayed at 11 rigs.
Only two of the oil and gas plays saw an addition of rig activity. The Permian count increased by one to 311 and the Cana Woodford, which is comprised of the STACK and SCOOP plays in the heart of Oklahoma, added one to reach 24 rigs.
Otherwise other plays were either unchanged or saw a drop in drilling activity.
The Ardmore Woodford stayed at 2 rigs and the Arkoma Woodford at one. The Barnett remained at one, the D-J Basin at 13 and the Eagle Ford count dropped y two to 52 rigs. The Granite Wash count dropped by one, leaving only one rig active in the play
The Haynesville slipped by two to 40 while the Marcellus remained at 29 and the Mississippian was unchanged with two rigs.
The Utica stayed at 13 and the Williston was unchanged at 34 rigs.