Canadian gains prop up rig count

Ray Tyson

Petroleum News Houston correspondent

The number of rotary drilling rigs operating in North America rose by 28 to 1,697 during the week ending Feb. 13, according to rig monitor Baker Hughes.

Canada led the charge with a gain of 34 rigs versus the previous week for a total of 586 rigs, up 37 rigs compared to the same weekly period last year.

That helped offset a six-rig decline in the United States, which ended the week with 1,111 rigs, still up by 206 rigs compared to the same period last year. In the recent week, the offshore rig count declined by three to 97, while land rigs fell by two to 995. The number of rigs employed in U.S. inland waters decreased by one to 19.

Of the total number of rigs operating in the United States, 951 were drilling for natural gas and 155 for oil, while five rigs were being used for miscellaneous purposes, according to Baker Hughes. Of the total, 728 rigs were drilling vertical wells, 285 directional wells, and 98 horizontal wells.

Among the leading producing states in the United States, Oklahoma’s rig count fell by three to 143. Texas’ decreased by one to 485. And Wyoming’s slipped by one to 63. Louisiana picked up two rigs for a total of 168. And New Mexico’s rig count increased by one to 61. California’s rig count remained unchanged at 20, as well as Alaska’s at 10.