By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Dec.7 -- US drilling activity increased by 5 rotary rigs to 1,828 units working, the highest count in 14 weeks and up from 1,724 in the same period last year, Baker Hughes Inc. reported.
Land operations accounted for most of the increase, up 6 rotary rigs to 1,739 drilling this week. Inland water activity added 1 rig for a total of 28. However, that was offset by a decline of 2 rigs in offshore drilling to 59 in the Gulf of Mexico and 61 in federal waters as a whole.
Among the major producing states, New Mexico had the largest gain of 6 rigs to 79 working. Colorado and Wyoming added 3 rigs each for respective totals of 117 and 74. Texas was unchanged with 872 rigs working, as was Alaska at 10. Oklahoma, Louisiana, and California lost 2 rigs each to 201, 160, and 38, respectively.
Canada's rig count increased by 7 to 388 but was still down from 463 during the same period a year ago.
