The Permian Basin had 272 active rigs in the latest weekly count, released Friday by Baker Hughes and unchanged from the previous week. A year earlier, 251 rigs were active in the region. Nationally, the oil and gas rig count was unchanged from last week at 603, compared with 546 a year ago.
By type, 462 rigs were seeking oil, up two from the previous week. A total of 130 rigs were exploring for natural gas, down two. The count also listed 11 miscellaneous rigs, unchanged from last week.
The regional benchmark, Plains-West Texas Intermediate Posting, ended Friday at $100.60 per barrel, up 85 cents from the previous Friday. The national benchmark, West Texas Intermediate crude, ended at $104.12 per barrel, also up 85 cents from the previous week.