U.S. picks up 11 rigs, Canada down 13

The number of rotary rigs operating in the United States and Canada during the week ending March 24 was down by a net two rigs to 1,647 compared to the previous week but was up by 177 rigs from the same period last year, according to rig monitor Baker Hughes.

The rig count in Canada stood at 316 during the recent week, down 13 compared to the previous week and down by four vs. the year-ago period.

The number of rigs operating in the United States during the recent week stood at 1,331, an increase of the 11 rigs from the previous week and an increase of 181 rigs from the year-ago period. Compared to the previous week only, land rigs increased by 12 to 1,208 and inland water rigs increased by two to 28 rigs. Offshore rigs decreased by three to 95.

Of the rigs operating in the United States during the recent week, 1,152 were drilling for natural gas and 178 for oil, while one rig was being used for miscellaneous purposes. Of the total, 828 rigs were vertical wells, 342 directional wells and 161 horizontal wells. Among the leading producing U.S. states, Oklahoma gained seven rigs for a total of 153 rigs, while Wyoming picked up five rigs for a total of 77 rigs and New Mexico picked up one rig for a total of 77 rigs. Louisiana’s rig count fell by two to 185, Colorado’s slipped by one to 72, California’s slipped by one to 25 and Alaska’s was down by one to 10 rigs. Texas was unchanged with 593 rigs.

—Ray Tyson