North American rig count drops by 23 to 1,478

Petroleum News

The North American rotary rig count continued its sea saw pattern during the week ending Aug. 22, dropping by 23 rigs compared to the previous week to 1,478 rigs, according to rig monitor Baker Hughes. The count was down in both the United States and Canada.

The total U.S. count fell by 14 rigs from the prior week to 1,082, but was up by 246 when compared to the 838 rigs that were active during the same weekly period last year. Lands rigs alone dropped by 13 from the prior week to 959, while the combined offshore-inland waters count slipped by one to 110 rigs.

In Canada, the rig count fell by nine to 396. Still, the count was up by 154 compared to the 242 rigs that were active during the same weekly period last year. Of the total number of rotary rigs operating in North America during the week, 928 were drilling gas wells and 149 oil wells, according to Baker Hughes. Five were used for miscellaneous operations. Rigs drilled 696 vertical wells, 281 directional wells and 105 horizontal wells.

Among the leading producing states, the rig count fell in all but two cases. Texas rose by four rigs to 483 and New Mexico increased by one to 65. Alaska decreased by two rigs to five. Louisiana fell by five rigs to 153. Oklahoma declined by four rigs to 133. Wyoming decreased by three rigs to 60. And California slipped by one rig to 24.