While the ongoing oil-price decline is bound to affect the U.S. rotary rig count in the coming year, 2014 saw a significant increase over the previous year—especially in the regions where one might expect that to happen. The average rig count for 2014 was above 1,860 rigs running, a 6% increase year-over-year, or about 100 rigs higher. The Permian basin of West Texas and New Mexico experienced the greatest increase in activity, with the rig count rising 16% to 17% on average, or about a 60-rig improvement. Activity in the Eagle Ford shale region of south-central Texas shot up about 35%, or an average of 16 additional rigs running for the year.

2