In its weekly release, Baker Hughes Company (BKR Quick QuoteBKR - Free Report) stated that the U.S. rig count was lower than the prior-week figure. The rotary rig count, issued by BKR, is usually published in major newspapers and trade publications.

Baker Hughes’ data, issued at the end of every week since 1944, helps energy service providers gauge the overall business environment of the oil and gas industry. The number of active rigs and comparison of the same with the prior-week figure indicates the demand trajectory for the company’s oilfield services from exploration and production companies.

Rig Count Data in Detail

Total U.S. Rig Count Falls: The count of rigs engaged in the exploration and production of oil and natural gas in the United States was 654 for the week ended Aug 11. The figure is lower than the prior week’s count of 659. The figure decreased for five straight weeks. The current national rig count is also lower than the year-ago level of 763.

Onshore rigs in the week ended Aug 11 totaled 632, lower than the prior week's count of 635. In offshore resources, 18 rigs were operating, lower than the prior week’s count of 19.

U.S. Oil Rig Count Flat: Oil rig count was 525 in the week ended Aug 11, in line with the prior-week figure. The current number of oil rigs — far from the peak of 1,609 attained in October 2014 — is down from the year-ago figure of 601.

U.S. Natural Gas Rig Count Declines: Natural gas rig count of 123 is lower than the prior-week figure of 128. The count of rigs exploring the commodity is below the prior-year week’s 160. Per the latest report, the number of natural gas-directed rigs is 92.3% lower than the all-time high of 1,606 recorded in 2008.

Rig Count by Type: The number of vertical drilling rigs totaled 22 units, higher than the prior-week count of 21. The horizontal/directional rig count (encompassing new drilling technology with the ability to drill and extract gas from dense rock formations, also known as shale formations) of 632 is lower than the prior-week level of 638.

Gulf of Mexico (GoM) Rig Count Falls: GoM rig count was 17 units, all oil-directed. The count was lower than the prior-week number of 18.

Rig Count in the Most Prolific Basin

Permian — the most prolific basin in the United States — recorded a weekly oil rig count of 322, higher than the prior week's 320. The number increased in two of the past five weeks.

Outlook

The West Texas Intermediate crude price is trading at more than the $80-per-barrel mark, which is highly favorable for exploration and production activities. Solid oil prices will likely pave the way for rig additions despite a slowdown in drilling activities, as upstream players mainly focus on stockholder returns rather than boosting output.

Investors may keep a close eye on energy stocks like EOG Resources (EOG Quick QuoteEOG - Free Report) and Matador Resources Company (MTDR Quick QuoteMTDR - Free Report) , as the companies are expected to benefit from the current healthy oil price scenario.

EOG Resources is a leading oil and natural gas exploration and production company. It is well-placed to capitalize on the promising business scenario. It has an estimated 11,500 net undrilled premium locations, resulting in a brightened production outlook.

EOG Resources is strongly committed to returning capital to shareholders. Since transitioning to premium drilling, the company has returned a handsome amount of cash to stockholders. With the employment of premium drilling, EOG can reduce its cash operating costs per barrel of oil equivalent, thereby aiding its bottom line.

Matador Resources has a strong presence in the oil-rich core acres of the Wolfcamp and Bone Spring plays in the Delaware Basin. Promising oil price is likely to aid it in increasing production volumes. Matador acquired Advance Energy Partners Holdings, LLC, which comprises several oil and natural gas-producing properties and undeveloped acreage. MTDR expects the acquisition to be accretive to important valuation and financial metrics.