International rig fleet at 903, down 4

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The international rig count (worldwide excluding North America) stood at 903 for October, down four from September, but up from 842 in October 2004, according to rig monitor Baker Hughes.

The majority, 639, are rigs operating onshore.

Also in the majority are rigs targeting oil — 660, as opposed to 232 drilling for gas and 11 shown as miscellaneous.

The largest number of rigs, 295, is operating in Latin America, 235 on land and 60 offshore, with 205 rigs drilling for oil, 87 for gas and three miscellaneous.

The Middle East has 259 rigs operating, 223 on land and 36 offshore, with 208 targeting oil and 51 targeting gas. Asia Pacific is third, with 233 rigs, 124 on land and 109 offshore; 160 are drilling for oil, 68 for gas and five miscellaneous.

Seventy rigs are active in Europe, 23 on land and 47 offshore. Of the 70, 46 are drilling for oil, 21 for gas and three miscellaneous.

Africa has the fewest rigs active, 46, with 34 on land and 12 offshore; 41 are drilling for oil, five for gas.

—Petroleum News