Oil and natural gas rig count dips in Oklahoma, nationwide

The number of rigs drilling for oil and natural gas dipped for the second time in three weeks, both in Oklahoma and nationwide, as oil prices held near two-month highs.

Oklahoma’s count dropped by two this week to 132, but remained up 116 percent from 61 one year ago, according to Baker Hughes.

Central Oklahoma’s STACK and SCOOP fields are among the most active areas in the country.

The plays are part of the Cana Woodford basin, which gave back three rigs this week to 60.

The basin had 29 active rigs one year ago.

The Cana Woodford is the third mostactive field in the country, behind the south Texas Eagle Ford, which added two rigs this week to 78, and the Permian Basin in west Texas and southeast New Mexico, which was unchanged this week at 379.

Nationwide, the rig count declined by four this week to 954, which is up 106 percent from 464 one year ago. The number of rigs drilling for oil decreased by one this week to 765, while the natural gas rig count dropped by three to 189.

Texas remained the country’s most active driller, gaining four rigs this week to 466. Alaska was the only other state to add rigs this week, picking up one to boost its count to six.

Louisiana gave back five rigs this week while New Mexico and South Dakota each dipped by one.

Friday’s rig count report follows two weeks of relatively strong oil prices and comes amid

second-quarter earnings reports for oil companies throughout the country.

Domestic benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude gained 55 cents Friday to close at $49.58 a barrel, down

13 from $49.71 one week ago, but still near a twomonth high.

The benchmark natural gas price slipped 3 cents Friday to $2.77 per thousand cubic feet, down from $2.94 one week ago.