U.S. loses 40 rigs, Canada gains 13 in weekly count

Petroleum News

The number of rotary rigs operating in North America, following a week in which the count rose by 96 rigs, fell by a net 27 rigs to 1,663 during the week ending Jan. 23, according to rig monitor Baker Hughes. However, the rig count was up by 273 compared to the same period last year.

Canada’s latest weekly rig count actually increased by 13 to 576 rigs as drillers continued to ramp up for the winter drilling season. The count also was 48 ahead vs. the year-ago period.

The number of operating rigs in the United States fell by 40 to 1,087, with 32 attributed to the land rig market alone, which stood at 971 rigs. Offshore rigs fell by five to 99, while inland water rigs fell by three to 17. However, the total U.S. rig count during the recent week was up 225 compared to the same period a year earlier.

In the United States, 946 rigs were drilling for natural gas and 137 for oil, while four rigs were being used for miscellaneous purposes. Of the total, 724 rigs were drilling vertical wells, 267 directional wells, and 96 horizontal wells.

Among the leading producing states in the United States, Texas’ rig count fell by nine to 457, while New Mexico’s dropped by nine to 61 rigs. Louisiana’s fell by eight to 155 rigs. California’s fell by eight to 18 rigs. Baker Hughes said Alaska’s rig count was down by two to eight rigs, although an Alaska source said the state lost only one rig. Oklahoma’s count was unchanged at 146, as well as Wyoming’s at 71.