National rig count unchanged at 1,048

The number of rigs drilling for oil and natural gas in the U.S. was unchanged the week ending Sept. 7 at 1,048.

At this time a year ago there were 944 active rigs.

Houston oilfield services company Baker Hughes reported that 860 rigs targeted oil (down two from the previous week) and 186 targeted gas (up two). Two were listed as miscellaneous (no change).

Among major oil- and gas-producing states, Louisiana gained three, Wyoming gained two and Alaska and North Dakota each gained one. Oklahoma was down two. Colorado and Texas were unchanged.

Texas, with 528 rigs, accounts for the majority of the nation’s rig activity, followed by Oklahoma at 137 and New Mexico at 100.

The Baker Hughes rotary rig count shows six rigs active in Alaska, up from four a year ago.

The U.S. rig count peaked at 4,530 in 1981. It bottomed out in May 2016 at 404.

- Petroleum News