Canada’s rig count up 61, U.S. down by 16 in weekly Baker Hughes survey

The number of rotary drilling rigs operating in the United States and Canada during the week ending May 13 stood at a combined 1,563 rigs, up 45 rigs from the previous week and up 234 rigs from the same period last year, according to rig monitor Baker Hughes.

The Canadian rig count alone rose to 255, an increase of 61 rigs compared to the previous week and an increase of 88 rigs vs. the year-ago period.

The number of rigs operating in the United States during the recent week totaled 1,308, down 16 rigs from the prior week but up by 146 rigs compared to the same period last year. Compared to the previous week alone, land rigs fell by 11 to 1,196, while offshore rigs slipped by one to 88 and inland waters rigs fell by four to 24.

Of the number of rigs operating in the United States in the recent week, 831 were drilling vertical wells, 307 directional wells and 170 horizontal wells. Of the total, 1,158 wells were drilling for natural gas and 150 for oil.

Among the leading U.S. producing states, Oklahoma suffered the biggest rig loss during the recent week, dropping by nine rigs to 146. Texas’ rig count fell by six to 598, while Wyoming’s decreased by three rigs to 68, New Mexico’s decreased by two rigs to 88 and Louisiana’s dropped by two to 173. Colorado picked up one rig for a total of 65 rigs. Alaska’s rig count was unchanged from the previous week with eight rigs, as was California with 26 rigs.

—Ray Tyson