North American drilling rig count falls by 160 to 1,723

The combined number of rotary drilling rigs operating in the United States and Canada during the week ending March 11 plummeted by 160 to 1,723 compared to the previous week but was up by 68 rigs vs. the same period last year, according to rig monitor Baker Hughes.

Canada accounted for nearly the entire decrease in operating rigs during the recent week. The rig count stood at 441, down by 152 from the prior week and down by 80 when compared to the year-ago period.

The number of rigs operating in the United States during the recent week decreased by eight to 1,282 from the previous week but was up by 148 versus the same period a year ago. Compared to the previous week only, offshore rigs fell by six to 93, while land rigs slipped by two to 1,161. The number of Inland water rigs was unchanged at 28.

Of the total number of rigs operating in the United States in the recent week, 1,091 were drilling for natural gas and 189 for oil, while two were being used for miscellaneous purposes. Of the total, 781 were vertical wells, 347 directional wells and 154 horizontal wells.

Among the leading U.S. producing states, Louisiana accounted for the single largest decrease in rigs, falling by 11 to 184 rigs. Oklahoma’s rig count fell by five to 147, while Alaska’s slipped by one to 10 rigs, California’s slipped by one to 28 rigs and Wyoming’s slipped by one to 69 rigs. New Mexico picked up 11 rigs for a total of 74. Texas’ rig count increased by three to 565, while Colorado’s increased by one to 73.

—Ray Tyson