Canada’s rig count falls by 18, U.S. down by eight rigs

The number of rotary rigs operating in the United States and Canada during the week ending Feb. 4 stood at a combined 1,824, down 26 rigs from the previous week but up 155 rigs from the same period last year, according to rig monitor Baker Hughes.

Canada’s rig count during the recent week fell by 18 to 576 compared to the previous week but was up by 24 vs. the same period the year before.

The number of rigs operating in the United States during the recent week stood at 1,248, down by eight rigs from the prior week but up by 131 rigs compared to the year ago period. Compared to the previous week only, land rigs fell by three to 1,127, while offshore rigs fell by four to 98 and inland water rigs fell by one to 23.

Of the total rigs operating in the United States during the recent week, 1,059 were drilling for natural gas and 187 for oil, while two were being used for miscellaneous purposes. Of the total, 790 were vertical wells, 324 directional wells, and 134 horizontal wells.

Among the leading U.S. producing states, Wyoming suffered the largest loss of drilling rigs during the recent week, falling by six to 69 rigs. Texas’ rig count was down by two to 544, while California’s was down by one to 24. Colorado picked up three rigs for a total of 68. And Alaska picked up two rigs for a total of nine. Louisiana was unchanged with 166 rigs, as was New Mexico with 72 rigs and Oklahoma with 153 rigs.

—Ray Tyson