Wyoming's rig count falls to zero for only second time in 136 years

Workers laid down Wyoming’s last operating gas rig this week in Sweetwater County, dropping the state’s total rig count to zero, a jolting reminder of the economic devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This marks only the second time the state’s rig count has reached zero since 1884, according to Pete Obermueller, executive director of the Petroleum Association of Wyoming. At the time, Wyoming was still a territory. The state’s rig count temporarily reached zero on June 26, according to Baker Hughes, but inched back up to one rig the week after. “It is historic, but not in a great way,” Obermueller said. “There are so many jobs attached to these rigs, and now, people are painfully learning so much revenue is attached too. It’s mind boggling and hard to capture the impact.” The Petroleum Association of Wyoming estimates one lost rig translates into 100 lost jobs...MORE