U.S. rig count falls by 5, Canada 1

The number of rotary drilling rigs operating in the United States and Canada together stood at 1,502 during the week ending April 22, down a net six rigs from the previous week but up by 226 rigs compared to the same period last year, according rig monitor Baker Hughes.

The Canadian rig count slipped by one from the previous week to 159 but was up by 29 vs. the same period last year.

The number of rigs operating in the United States during the recent week stood at 1,343, down by a net five rigs from the prior week but up by 197 from the year-ago period. Compared to the previous week alone, the number of offshore rigs fell by eight to 88, while inland water rigs decline by two to 26. Land rigs increased by five to 1,229.

Of the total number of rigs operating in the United States during the recent week, 1,170 were drilling for natural gas and 173 for oil. Of the total, 857 were vertical wells, 321 directional wells and 165 horizontal wells.

Among the leading U.S. producing states, Louisiana suffered the largest decline in rigs during the recent week, falling by nine to 174 rigs. Alaska’s rig count fell by three to nine, while Colorado’s slipped by two to 69 rigs, California’s slipped by one to 30 rigs and Oklahoma’s slipped by one to 152 rigs. Texas gained eight rigs for a total of 602, while New Mexico picked up three rigs for a total of 85 rigs. Wyoming was unchanged with 76 rigs.

—Ray Tyson