North American rig count falls by 21 to 1,506

The North American rotary rig count fell by 21 to 1,506 during the week ending Oct. 17, with gains registered in the United States and losses posted in Canada, according to rig monitor Baker Hughes.

In Canada, the rig count dropped by 21 following two consecutive weeks of gains. The number of operating rigs stood at 391, still up by nearly 90 percent compared to the 206 rigs that were at work during the same weekly period last year.

In the United States, the overall rig count rose by six to 1,115, up about 40 percent from the 843 rigs working a year earlier. Compared to the previous week, land rigs increased by seven to 995, while the inland waters count fell by one to 14. The offshore rig count remained unchanged at 102.

Among the rotary rigs operating in the United States, 951 were used to drill gas wells and 160 to drill oil wells, while four were used for miscellaneous purposes. Of the total, 753 were drilling vertical wells, 268 directional wells and 94 horizontal wells.

Among the leading producing states in the United States, the Texas rig count rose by seven to 475, Oklahoma’s increased by two to 141 and New Mexico’s increased by one to 69. California’s rig count decreased by two to 25 and Louisiana’s fell by one to 158. Wyoming remained unchanged at 70 rigs, as did Alaska at 10 rigs.