Canada, United States pick up combined 77 rigs to total 1,700

Ray Tyson

The number of rotary drilling rigs operating in North America during the week of Nov. 5 stood at 1,700, up 77 rigs from the prior week and up 208 from the same period last year, according to rig monitor Baker Hughes.

The Canadian rig count alone jumped by 60 to 432 vs. the previous week, and also was up by 54 compared to the year-ago period.

The number of rigs operating in the United States compared to the prior week increased by 17 to 1,268. The count also was up by 154 compared to the same period last year. Compared to the previous week, the number of land rigs increased by 13 to 1,149, while the number offshore rigs rose by three to 96. The number of inland water rigs increased by one to 23.

Of the rigs operating in the United States during the recent week, 1,077 were drilling for natural gas and 190 for oil, while one was being used for miscellaneous purposes. Of the total, 797 were vertical wells, 339 directional wells, and 132 horizontal wells.

Among the leading U.S. producing states, New Mexico saw the largest gain in rigs, increasing by nine to 72, while Oklahoma saw a gain of eight rigs for a total of 168. Louisiana’s rig count increased by three to 178, Wyoming’s increased by two to 82 and Alaska’s increased by one to 11. Texas lost five rigs for a total of 524. California was unchanged with 26 rigs.