From staff reports Of the oil and gas plays across the U.S., one in Oklahoma saw the most dramatic gain in drilling activity, according to the latest Baker Hughes rig count.
The Granite Wash was also one of four plays across the country that did not record a decline in the past week. Its count remained at 16 rigs and the number represents a 300% gain from a year ago when the count was only four active oil and gas rigs.
Three others that were unchanged as reported in the latest Baker Hughes rig count included the Barnett play in north Texas with a count of two rigs; the D-J Basin in Colorado with five active rigs and the Haynesville in east Texas and Louisiana where the count was unchanged at 33 rigs. One play also saw no change and that was the Mississippian in northern Oklahoma and western Kansas but it also has not recorded any drilling activity for several months.
Another of Oklahoma’s active plays, the Cana Woodford recorded a drop of one rig, leaving 20 active. The Ardmore Woodford total fell one to four rigs and the Arkoma Woodford lost one rig, leaving only one active.
Of the nation’s other plays the Permian Basin count fell by three to 279 rigs and the total is 11% below last year’s count at this time. The Williston in North Dakota saw a decline of two rigs to 31. The Eagle Ford total fell by four to 42 rigs. The Marcellus count fell one to 24 rigs. The Utica play grew by two to 13 rigs.