Canadian rig count takes another dive, drops to 308

Petroleum News

Another 30 rotary drilling rigs were taken out of service in Canada during the week ending Sept. 26, bringing the total down to 308 rigs. Nearly a quarter (99) of the Canadian fleet was not in use during the past month, according to rig monitor Baker Hughes.

Canada's weekly rig count stood at 308, still up by 71 compared to the 237 rigs that were at work during the same period last year. However, the continuing slide in Canada pulled the North American rig count down to 1,403, despite a net gain of three rigs in the United States during the week.

Baker Hughes said the decline in Canada's rig count was only temporary, attributing it to a combination of bad weather, movement of rigs between drill sites and seasonal softness in the rig market.

The weekly rig count in the United States stood at 1,095, with land rigs increasing by nine to 973 and inland water-offshore rigs dropping by six, for a net increase of three rigs. The total U.S. rig count was up by 220 compared to the 875 rigs that were at work during the same weekly period last year.

In North America, 943 rigs during the week were dedicated to natural gas drilling and 148 to oil drilling. Four rigs were used for miscellaneous work. Additionally, 721 were being used to drill vertical wells, 284 directional wells, and 90 horizontal wells, according to Baker Hughes.

Among the seven leading producing states in the United States, only two states gained rigs during the week. California's rose by two to 26 rigs and Wyoming's increased by one to 67. Texas was down by three rigs to 466. Louisiana was down by three rigs to 155.

New Mexico was down by one rig to 66. And Oklahoma dropped one rig to 138. Alaska remained unchanged at eight rigs.