The US has posted the highest weekly natural gas rig count in two years, according to Baker Hughes.
The weekly natural gas rig count increased by 11 last week.
The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) said: “There are now 105 active natural gas rigs in the United States. This is the largest increase in natural gas-directed rigs since the week ending October 31, 2014, when the natural gas rig count increased by 14.”
This is the fourth consecutive week Baker Hughes has recorded an increase.
However, the numbers are still down on last year’s count of 192. The figure also equates to only 25% of the 401 natural gas rigs peak in September 2013.
An EIA spokesperson said: “Currently, most of the active natural gas-directed rigs are in the Marcellus (34 active rigs in Pennsylvania and West Virginia), followed by the Haynesville (Louisiana and Texas) and the Utica (Ohio and Pennsylvania) formations with 16 and 15 active rigs, respectively. Of the 11 additional natural gas rigs reported this week, more than half are in Louisiana, with twp of these rigs in the Haynesville basin. Activity also increased in the Marcellus where the natural gas rig count rose by two. No basins reported a decline in the number of natural gas rigs in operation for the week.
“Compared to last year, natural gas rig count declines have been the steepest in Texas. including both the Eagle Ford and Permian basins, and the Niobrara basin (in Colorado and Wyoming). The only two major natural gas-producing basins that do not show year-on-year declines in the natural gas rig count are the Utica formation – 15 active rigs – and the Arkoma Woodford formation in Oklahoma – four active rigs.”