By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Oct. 7 -- US drilling activity slipped this week by 2 units to 1,481 rotary rigs working, Baker Hughes Inc. reported. That compares with 1,230 rotary rigs working in the same period a year ago.
The number of active land rigs dipped by 1 during the week to 1,375. Total offshore drilling in US waters also was down by 1 rig, with 86 working, although Gulf of Mexico activity was unchanged with 82 rigs drilling. Drilling in inland waters was unchanged with 20 rotary rigs working.
Texas registered the biggest weekly decline, down by 8 rigs to 663 making hole. Louisiana lost 2 to 174. But California registered a major drop, down 7 to 25 still working. All of the other major producing states increased their rig counts this week.
Canada's rig count plunged by 60 to 477 rotary rigs at work. That's up from 405 in the same period last year.