Canada drags down North America rig count

The Canadian rotary rig count took it on the chin again during the week ending Sept. 19, dropping by 40 rigs for a net loss of 69 rigs for a three consecutive week period.

With a loss of three rigs in the United States, the North American weekly count fell by 43 to 1,430, still up by 314 rigs compared to the same period last year, according to rig monitor Baker Hughes.

And even though Canada's rig count fell by 40 to 338, it also was up by 74 rigs versus the same weekly period last year.

In the United States, the weekly rig count stood at 1,092, up 240 rigs compared to the same week a year earlier. Land rigs totaled 964 and accounted for the loss of all three rigs in the U.S. offshore and inland water rigs remained unchanged at 110.

Of the total number of rotary rigs operating in North America, 936 were used to drill gas wells and 152 to drill oil wells. Four were used for miscellaneous purposes. Of the total, rigs drilled 716 vertical wells, 285 directional wells and 91 horizontal wells.

Among the leading producing state in the United States, New Mexico's rig count fell by five to 67. Texas was down by three to 469 rigs. And Oklahoma fell by one to 139 rigs. Wyoming's rig count increased by two to 66 rigs. California was up by two to 24 rigs. And Alaska increased by one to eight rigs.