By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Dec. 14 -- US drilling activity slipped from a 14-week high, down by 4 rotary rigs to 1,824 still drilling, up from 1,716 a year ago, Baker Hughes Inc. reported Dec. 14.
As usual, land operations registered the biggest change, down 5 rigs to 1,734 working. Inland waters activity increased by 1 rig to 29. Offshore drilling was unchanged with 61 rotary rigs drilling, including 59 in the Gulf of Mexico.
Texas had the biggest gain among the major producing states, up by 13 units to 885 drilling. California's weekly rig count increased by 1 to 39. Louisiana and Alaska were unchanged at 160 and 10, respectively. New Mexico dropped 2 rigs to 77 working. Colorado and Wyoming lost 4 rigs each, with respective counts of 113 and 70. Oklahoma, which was hit by ice storms this week, was down 5 to 196 rigs still working.
Canada's weekly count jumped by 31 to 419, but still remained below the year-ago level of 497 rigs drilling.
