US drilling activity stabilizes

July 11, 2008
US drilling activity remained relatively stable with 1,922 rotary rigs working, 1 more than the previous week, said Baker Hughes Inc.

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, July 11 -- US drilling activity remained relatively stable with 1,922 rotary rigs working, 1 more than the previous week and up from 1,791 in the same period a year ago, said Baker Hughes Inc.

Land drilling dipped by 4 rigs to 1,832 working this week. That was offset by a 4-rig increase offshore, with 67 rigs drilling in the Gulf of Mexico—currently the only source of activity in US waters. Inland waters activity increased by 1 rig to 23.

Of the rigs working this week, the number drilling for oil dropped by 3 to 370. Units drilling for natural gas increased 5 to 1,544. The rest were unclassified. There were 386 rigs involved in directional drilling, down 1 from last week. There were 560 rigs drilling horizontally, 5 more than previously.

Among the major producing states, Texas' rig count fell by 15 to 908 units working. Oklahoma was down 9 to 200. Colorado lost 2 to 109. North Dakota—a new addition to Baker Hughes' list—and California were down 1 each to 69 and 42, respectively. Wyoming was unchanged at 76.

Louisiana's rig count increased by 6 to 182 during the week. New Mexico was up 3 to 84. Alaska increased by 2 to 6. Arkansas—another addition—gained 1 to 60.

Canada's rig count jumped by 26 to 414 units drilling, up from 360 a year ago.