Canada gains 18 rigs, U.S. down by 2

Petroleum News

The North American rotary rig count, once again lifted by the onslaught of winter drilling in Canada, increased by a net 18 to 1,594 rigs during the week ending Dec. 12, according to rig monitor Baker Hughes.

The number of rigs operating in Canada actually increased by 20 to 485 rigs from the previous week, up by 103 rigs compared to the same weekly period last year.

In the United States, the rig count fell by a net two to 1,109 rigs, still up by 264 rigs compared to the same period last year. For the recent week, land rigs slipped by three to 989 and offshore rigs fell by one to 101, partly offset by a gain of two rigs to 18 for inland waters.

Of the total number of rigs operating in the United States, 959 were drilling for natural gas and 148 for oil, while two rigs were used for miscellaneous purposes. Of the total, 737 were drilling vertical wells, 274 directional wells and 98 horizontal wells.

Among the leading producing states, California’s rig count fell by three to 22. New Mexico’s also fell by three to 65. Texas was down by two rigs to 473. Louisiana gained two rigs for a total of 161. Oklahoma’s rig count increased by two to 143. And Wyoming’s increased by two rigs to 62.

Alaska was unchanged at 13 rigs.