Canada gains 28 drilling rigs, U.S. count down by 14

Ray Tyson

The number of rotary rigs operating in North America during the week ending Feb. 25 stood at 1,898, a net increase of 14 rigs compared to the previous week and an increase of 204 rigs vs. the same period last year, according to rig monitor Baker Hughes.

Canada’s rig count increased by 28 to 617 from the previous week, and was up by 57 from the year-ago period.

The number of rigs operating in the United States during the recent week fell by 14 to 1,281 vs. the prior week but was up by 147 compared to the same period last year. Compared to the previous week alone, land rigs fell by 12 to 1,148 while offshore rigs declined by two to 105. Inland water rigs were unchanged at 28.

Of the total number of rigs operating in the United States during the recent week, 1,090 were drilling for natural gas and 189 for the oil, while two were being used for miscellaneous purposes. Of the total, 776 were vertical wells, 356 directional wells and 149 horizontal wells.

Among the leading U.S. producing states, Oklahoma’s rig count plummeted by 11 to 146 during the recent week, while New Mexico’s fell by five to 66 and California’s slipped by one to 26. Wyoming picked up two rigs for a total of 69, and Louisiana picked up two rigs for a total of 198. Texas gained one rig for a total of 556. Alaska’s rig count was unchanged at 12, as well as Colorado with 71 rigs.