Rig count down by 68 to 1,452

Ray Tyson

Petroleum News Houston correspondent

The number of rotary drilling rigs operating in North America during the week ending July 16 fell by 68 vs. the previous week to 1,452, according to rig monitor Baker Hughes. The recent week also was down by 49 rigs compared to the same period a year earlier.

Canada accounted for most of the overall decrease, falling by 72 rigs to 241 compared to the previous week and plummeting by 171 compared to the year-ago period.

The number of rigs operating in the United States in the recent week rose by four to 1,211 vs. the previous week and was up by 122 compared to the same weekly period a year ago. Land rigs alone increased by two to 1,094 compared to the previous week, while offshore rigs increased by one to 97 and inland water rigs increased by one to 20. Of the total number of rigs operating in the United States during the recent week, 1,041 were drilling for natural gas and 168 for oil, while two rigs were being used for miscellaneous purposes. Of the total, 735 were vertical wells, 341 directional wells, and 135 horizontal wells.

Among the leading producing states in the United States, Texas gained seven rigs vs. the previous week to total 502. Alaska gained one rig for a total of 11. New Mexico’s rig count declined by three to total 65 and California lost one rig for a total of 27. Louisiana lost one rig to total 166. Oklahoma lost one rig to total 169 and the number of rigs operating in Wyoming slipped by two to total 83.