Eleven rigs active in Alaska

Petroleum News Alaska Staff

Baker Hughes reported May 24 that the U.S. rig count of 859 active rigs was up 30 from the previous week, and down 403 from a year ago. The Canadian rig count, at 134, was up 36 from the previous week and down 129 from a year ago.

Including 107 rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, 993 rigs were working in North America, up 66 from the previous week but down 532 from a year ago.

Alaska had 11 rigs active May 24, the same as the previous week, and down two from a year ago. Ten of the Alaska rigs were onshore and one offshore (Cook Inlet), the same as the previous week. The Alaska rig count has been the same throughout May.

Baker Hughes has issued rotary rig counts since 1944. U.S. active rigs peaked at 4,530 in December 1981. The lowest U.S. rig count, 488, was in April 1999. Canadian rig activity peaked at 558 in January 2000. The lowest Canadian rig count was 29 in April 1992.