US drilling activity rebounds

July 14, 2006
US drilling activity rebounded from 2 weeks of declines, up by 9 units with 1,668 rotary rigs working this week, vs. 1,404 a year ago, said Baker Hughes Inc.

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, July 14 -- US drilling activity rebounded from 2 weeks of declines, up by 9 units with 1,668 rotary rigs working this week, vs. 1,404 a year ago, said Baker Hughes Inc.

All of the gain was in land operations, up by 11 rigs to 1,553 making hole. Drilling in inland waters declined by 2 rigs to 21 working. Offshore operations were unchanged with 94 rotary rigs working in US waters, including 91 in the Gulf of Mexico.

Texas had the biggest increase for the week, gaining 10 rigs for a total of 748 drilling. Oklahoma was up by 5 rigs to 188, and Colorado gained 2 rigs to 93. Louisiana, Wyoming, and Alaska were unchanged at 189, 105, and 8, respectively. California's rig count was down by 4 to 30. New Mexico lost 3, with 91 still working.

Canada's weekly rig count increased by 11 to 571 drilling, up from 493 in the same period in 2005.