Canada gains 30 rigs, U.S. loses eight in weekly count

Ray Tyson

Petroleum News Houston correspondent

The number of rotary rigs operating in North America during the week ending May 7 increased a net 22 compared to the prior week and increased a net 226 compared to the same weekly period last year, according to rig monitor Baker Hughes.

In Canada, the rig count stood at 185 in the recent week, up 30 rigs from the previous week and up 94 rigs compared to the same period last year.

The number of rigs operating in the United States decreased by eight to 1,153 in the recent week but was up by 132 vs. the same period last year. Land rigs alone fell by eight to 1,032 from the previous week, while offshore rigs were unchanged at 98 and inland water rigs unchanged at 23.

Of the total number of rigs operating in the United States during the recent week, 994 were drilling for natural gas and 158 for oil, while one was being used for miscellaneous purposes. Of the total, 758 were vertical wells, 284 directional wells, and 111 horizontal wells. Among the leading producing states in the United States, Oklahoma suffered the biggest loss of rigs, dropping by seven to 158 from the previous week. Louisiana’s rig count fell by six to 168. Wyoming was down by three rigs to 60. Texas slipped by one rig to 501. And Alaska declined by one rig to seven. New Mexico gained five rigs in the recent week for a total of 64. California was unchanged at 26 rigs.