Increase in the number of oil and gas rigs in the US, while Oklahoma remains stable

The country’s drilling rigs increased by two last week, bringing the total to 588, Baker Hughes Co. reported on Friday.

The number in Oklahoma remained unchanged from the previous week with a total of 35 rigs. A year ago, there were 40 active oil and gas rigs in the state.

Nationally, Baker Hughes said the U.S. count included an increase of three oil rigs, bringing the total to 485, while the number of gas rigs decreased by one to 197. The number of offshore rigs decreased by one to 19 last week.

According to Baker Hughes, the total number of oil and gas rigs nationwide has decreased by 66. Last year there were 654 active oil and gas rigs. Last year there was a decrease of 40 oil rigs and 26 gas rigs.

Oklahoma counted 35, while Texas increased by two to 276 and New Mexico decreased by one to 107 rigs. North Dakota was unchanged at 35 and Louisiana’s number decreased by two to 38.

In Colorado, the number rose by one to 14, while Kansas added one rig and now has 30 rigs, according to the Red Top Rig Report. In Ohio, the number fell by one to 10 rigs and in Pennsylvania it rose by one to 21. In Utah, the number remained at 13 rigs and in West Virginia it was unchanged at five. Wyoming added two, bringing the total to 14 rigs.

In the Permian Basin, which stretches from West Texas to southeastern New Mexico, one rig was added, bringing the total to 304. In Williston, the number remained at 36 and in Eagle Ford, 50. In Haynesville, the number fell by two to 32 and in Marcellus, the number rose by one to 25 rigs.

The Ardmore Woodford remained at one rig and the Arkoma Woodford at two rigs. The Cana Woodford remained unchanged at 17. The Barnett continued another week of no drilling activity.

The rig count in the DJ Basin increased by one to 10. Granite Wash remained at 5 rigs, and the Mississippian Play has not yet seen any drilling activity, according to Baker Hughes. The rig count in Utica decreased by one to 10.