While a sample group of The American Oil & Gas Reporter's U.S.-based independent oil and gas producer readers were responding to the magazine's annual Survey of Independent Operators, two leading sources of activity levels were flashing warning signals. The gold standard Baker Hughes rig count stood still during November and December, with no measureable gains after a steady upward trot throughout the year. Decreasing natural gas rig counts offset rising oil counts through year's end. Meanwhile, IHS showed year-to-year declines in U.S. drilling permits of 5 and 10 percent for October and November, respectively. So is the party over?
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