Baker Hughes reports US rotary rig count drops slightly

Feb. 23, 2001
A total of 1,121 rotary rigs were working in the US and its waters this week, Baker Hughes Inc. said Friday. That was down 26 rigs from last week, but up 361 from a year ago. Slipping onshore activity accounted for most of the decline.


By the OGJ Online Staff


HOUSTON, Feb. 23, 2001
�A total of 1,121 rotary rigs were working in the US and its waters this week, Baker Hughes Inc. said Friday.

That was down 26 rigs from last week, but up 361 from a year ago. Slipping onshore activity accounted for most of the decline.

On land, 940 rigs were working, down 24 from last week and up 318 from a year ago. The number of active rigs in inland waters rose two to 22, up four from a year ago. There were 159 rigs working offshore the US, down four from last week and up 37 from a year ago.

There were 885 rigs drilling for gas, down 20 from last week and up 281 from a year ago.

The number of rigs drilling in California remained stable at 28. In all other states counted, the rig count fell. Alaska dropped one to 11 rigs; Louisiana five to 217; New Mexico two to 71, Oklahoma nine to 125; Texas five to 448, and Wyoming one to 51.

In Canada, 553 rigs were working, up three from last week and up eight from a year ago.

ODS-Petrodata Group, formerly Offshore Data Services Inc., said worldwide offshore rig utilization remained stable this week, with 86.6% of the available 649 rigs under contract.

In the US Gulf of Mexico, utilization fell slightly to 86.3% for the fleet of 211 rigs. Last week's utilization rate was 87.1% of the fleet of 210 rigs.

In European and Mediterranean waters, utilization remained stable at 92.1% of the fleet of 101 rigs, said ODS-Petrodata.