Drilling rig count falls again

Ray Tyson

Petroleum News Houston correspondent

The number of rotary drilling rigs operating in North American fell by 68 to 1,286 during the week ending April 8, according to rig monitor Baker Hughes. That followed a steep 116-rig decline during the preceding week.

The Canadian rig count alone dropped by 46 to 148 in the recent week, down by 27 rigs compared to the same period last year.

The total number of rigs operating in the United States decreased by a net 22 to 1,138 rigs during the recent week, but was up by 159 versus the same period a year ago. During the recent week, land rigs alone declined by 24 to 1,031 rigs. The inland waters gained two rigs for a total of 16, while the offshore rig count was unchanged at 91.

Of the total number of rigs operating in the United States during the recent week, 988 were drilling for natural gas and 148 for oil, while two rigs were being used for miscellaneous purposes. Of the total, 750 were drilling vertical wells, 285 directional wells and 103 horizontal wells.

Among the leading producing states in the United States, Oklahoma gained four rigs in the recent week for a total of 162 rigs. California picked up one rig for a total of 24, New Mexico’s rig count decreased by four to 61 and Wyoming’s slipped by four to 57. Texas was down by three rigs to 499. Louisiana lost three rigs for a total of 167. And Alaska’s rig count decreased by two to 10.

For the month of March 2004, the U.S. rig count averaged 1,136, up 17 from the 1,119 counted in February 2004 and up 195 from the 941 counted in March 2003. The Canadian rig count for March was 462, down 106 from the 568 counted in February 2004 and up 13 from the 449 counted in March 2003.

The worldwide rig count for March 2004 was 2,397, down 80 from the 2,477 counted in February 2004 and up 260 from the 2,137 counted in March 2003.