Canada loses 153 rigs, U.S. gains 23 in weekly survey

Ray Tyson

The number of rotary drilling rigs operating in the United States and Canada stood at a combined 1,628 for the week ending Dec. 24, down by 130 rigs compared to the previous week but up by 206 vs. the same period last year, according to rig monitor Baker Hughes.

Canada’s rig count alone fell by 153 to 371 compared to the previous week but still was up by 63 compared to the year-ago period.

The number of rigs operating in the United States during the recent week was 1,257, an increase of 23 rigs from the previous week and an increase of 143 from the same period a year earlier. Compared to the previous week only, the number of land rigs increased by 23 to 1,129, while the rig count for offshore units was unchanged at 107 and the count for inland water units was unchanged at 21.

Of the total number of rigs operating in the United States during the recent week, 1,070 were drilling for natural gas and 184 for oil, while three rigs were being used for miscellaneous purposes. Of the total, 811 were vertical wells, 314 directional wells and 132 horizontal wells.

Among the leading U.S. producing states during the recent week, Texas gained 14 rigs for a total of 546. Oklahoma picked up five rigs for a total of 147. Louisiana gained four rigs for a total 170. California gained two rigs for a total of 27. And Wyoming gained one rig for a total of 75. Alaska lost one rig for a total of 10. New Mexico was unchanged with 75 rigs.