US drilling activity continues decline

July 7, 2006
US drilling activity continued to decline for the third consecutive week from a 20-year high in mid-June, Baker Hughes Inc. reported.

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, July 7 -- US drilling activity continued to decline for the third consecutive week from a 20-year high in mid-June, Baker Hughes Inc. reported.

The number of rotary rigs working in the US dipped by 7 to 1,659 this week, up from 1,394 a year ago. That compares with 1,672 rotary rigs working in the US during the week ended June 16, the largest weekly rig count since Jan. 21, 1986.

Land operations led this week's decline, down by 11 rigs to 1,542 drilling. Inland water activity also dropped by 1 rig with 23 still at work. That was partly offset by an increase of 5 rigs to 94 drilling offshore in US waters, including a gain of 4 to 91 in the Gulf of Mexico.

Texas showed the biggest loss for the week, down by 8 rigs to 738 making hole. Oklahoma's rig count declined by 3 to 183, and New Mexico was down 2 to 94. California and Alaska were unchanged at 34 and 8, respectively. In Wyoming, drilling activity increased by 3 rigs to 105. Louisiana and Colorado gained 2 rigs each to 189 and 91.

Canada's weekly rig count jumped by 87 to 560 working, up from 367 in the same period last year.