By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, July 31 -- US drilling activity increased again this week with the addition of 5 rotary rigs, bringing the total working units to 948, far below the 1,951 that were drilling in the same period a year ago, according to the latest count by Baker Hughes Inc. July 31.
The change was among land operations, up 5 units to 904 working. Offshore, the number of rigs decreased by 1 to 36, including a 1-rig decrease to 35 in the Gulf of Mexico. Inland waters activity increased by 1 to 8 units.
The number of rigs drilling for natural gas increased by 2 to 677. Those drilling for oil gained 4 to 261. There were 10 rigs unclassified. Horizontal drilling increased by 5 rigs to 413. Directional drilling was down 3 to 180.
Among the major producing states, Louisiana and Wyoming were both up 3 rigs, with respective rig counts of 140 and 34. Texas’ rig count increased by 2 to 347. California also increased by 2 to 21. New Mexico picked up another rig for a total of 44.
Arkansas and North Dakota were both down 1 rig, with respective rig counts of 44 and 41. Oklahoma was down 4 to 75. Alaska and Colorado were unchanged.
Canada’s count increased by 20 to 200 rotary rigs working. That’s down from 451 units a year ago.