Rig counts rebound to total 1,510

Ray Tyson

Petroleum News Houston correspondent

The North American rotary rig count, following a week in which the count plummeted by 93, rocketed by 143 to 1,510 rigs for the week ending June 25, according to rig monitor Baker Hughes.

Canada accounted for nearly all of the increase, rising by 138 for a total of 334 rigs versus the previous week. The rig count also was up by 24 rigs compared to the same weekly period last year. The United States gained a net five rigs to end the recent week with 1,176 rigs, an increase of 102 compared to the same period last year. Land rigs, compared to the previous week, increased by eight to total 1,063 rigs. Inland water rigs decreased by two to 18, while offshore rigs slipped by one to total 95.

Of the total number of rigs operating in the United States during the recent week, 1,005 were drilling for natural gas and 170 for oil, while one rig was being used for miscellaneous purposes. Of the total, 722 were vertical wells, 321 directional wells, and 133 horizontal wells.

Among the leading producing states in the United States, Louisiana gained two rigs in the recent week to total 167 rigs. California picked up one rig to total 24, while Texas gained one rig to total 491. New Mexico’s rig count fell by two to 66, while Oklahoma’s decreased by two to 165. Alaska lost one rig to total six. Wyoming was unchanged at 80 rigs.