ExxonMobil supplants Chesapeake as nation's largest gas driller

摘要

ExxonMobil is now the nation's most active gas driller, replacing long-time champion Chesapeake Energy Corp. as the oil and gas industry closes quickly on a projected 150-unit drop in gas-directed rig count that sellside analysts are projecting for 2012.ExxonMobil currently has 41 rigs classified as gas-directed domestically compared to 24 for Chesapeake. However, that transition happened quickly. As of January 20, 2012, Chesapeake operated 70 units classified as gas-directed. That number fell to 46 on February 10, and dropped an additional 22 units in early March. ExxonMobil went from a distant second in gas-directed rig count during the month of January to the nation's leading gas driller midway through February despite a modest two-unit gain.