As 2021 began, there were no drilling rigs operating in the Panhandle and in February, natural gas production was down by about 30 percent. There are currently five rigs operating in the Panhandle, and though oil and gas companies are doing well, many are struggling to find workers.
[pdf] Drilling in the Permian Basin remains steady, based on figures from the latest Baker Hughes rig count. The report showed 303 oil and gas rigs were active in the basin of West Texas and southeast New Mexico. It was the highest count in all of the nation’s various shale plays.
[pdf] The oil rig count is currently 411 rigs, compared to 438 in June and 483 one year ago. The gas rig count is 122, compared to 111 in June and 97 last August. In the major plays, the Permian Basin rig count is at 255 rigs, 16 fewer than June’s count.
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