North American rotary drill rig count up by four to 1,483

The North American rotary rig count increased by a net four rigs during the week ending Oct. 31, with a 17 rig increase in the United States largely offsetting a 13 rig decline in Canada, according to rig monitor Baker Hughes.

The number of rigs operating in Canada during the recent week fell to 376, down from the previous week’s 389 rigs but up by 121 rigs compared to the same period last year.

In the United States, land rigs were up by 13 and inland water rigs increased by four, while the offshore count remained unchanged. That put the total numbers of rigs operating in the United States at 1,107, up from the prior week’s 1,090 rigs and up from 854 rigs in the year-ago week.

Of all rigs operating in the United States during the recent week, 944 were drilling for natural gas and 161 for oil, while two were used for miscellaneous purposes. Seven hundred and fifty two rigs were drilling vertical wells, 258 directional wells and 97 horizontal wells.

Among the leading producing states in the United States, Louisiana’s rig count rose by 10 to 168 rigs. Texas increased by three to 465 rigs. And New Mexico’s count went up by two to 65 rigs. Alaska remained unchanged with 10 rigs, as well as California with 26 rigs. New Mexico’s rig count slipped two to 65. And Wyoming was down by two to 66 rigs.