U.S. land rigs increase, offshore struggles

Petroleum News Houston staff

The rotary rig count onshore United States continues to surge while the offshore count remains flat to down, according to rig monitor Baker Hughes.

For the week ending July 18, the U.S. onshore rig count stood at 966, up 24 from the previous week and up 242 compared to the same weekly period last year. However, the offshore rig count fell by one to 102 and was down by nine versus the year-ago period. Rigs working inland waters of the United States increased by one from the previous week to 17 but were down by two compared to the same week last year, according to Baker Hughes.

For the major producing states, Texas led the pack with 474 rotary rigs, up 14 from the previous week and up 139 from a year earlier.

Oklahoma’s rig count rose by eight to 131, up 23 from a year ago. Louisiana was unchanged for the week at 157 but was down by one from a year earlier. Alaska also was unchanged at eight rigs and down by one from the prior-year period. Wyoming was at 62 rigs, up one from the prior week and up 17 for the same period last year. New Mexico also stood at 62, down one from the previous week but up 17 from the prior year’s weekly count. California was at 21 rigs, down two for the week and down two versus the same period last year.

The Canadian rotary rig count surged by 30 to 412 during the week and was up by 146 versus the year-ago period.

In total, the North American rotary rig count stood at 1,501, up 54 from the prior week and up 376 compared to the same weekly period last year.