By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Feb. 24 -- US drilling slipped to 1,543 rotary rigs working, 2 fewer than the previous week but up from 1,281 during the same period last year, said Baker Hughes Inc.
US land operations accounted for the decline, down by 9 units with 1,436 rotary rigs still working. That was partially offset by an increase of 7 rigs to 86 drilling in federal waters, including an increase of 6 to 84 in the Gulf of Mexico. Inland waters activity was unchanged with 21 rigs working.
Louisiana had an increase of 4 rigs to 182 during the week. Wyoming was up by 2 to 97, and Oklahoma added 1 for a total of 174. Texas was down by 5 rigs to 686; New Mexico lost 3 to 98. Colorado, California, and Alaska rig counts were unchanged at 83, 30, and 10, respectively.
Canada's weekly rig count dropped by 19 to 699, still up from 617 a year ago.
