By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Dec. 31 -- US drilling activity rebounded by 11 rotary rigs to 1,189 working this week, making up most of the 15-rig loss from the previous week but well down from the 1,623 working in the comparable period in 2008, Baker Hughes Inc. reported a day ahead of the New Year holiday.
Land operations accounted for most of the gain, up by 8 to 1,139 rotary rigs drilling this week. Inland waters activity was unchanged at 11 rigs. US offshore drilling increased by 3 units to 38 in the Gulf of Mexico and a total of 39 rigs in US waters.
Of the US rigs working, those drilling for natural gas increased by 8 to 759. The number drilling for oil was up 2 to 418. There were 12 rotary rigs unclassified. Horizontal drilling increased by 7 rigs to 571. Directional drilling was up 1 unit to 200.
Texas had the biggest increase among major producing states, up 7 to 485 rotary rigs working this week. Louisiana increased by 6 to 185. North Dakota, Pennsylvania, and California added 1 rig each for respective totals of 65, 64, and 26. Oklahoma, New Mexico, and West Virginia were unchanged at 95, 49, and 22, respectively. Colorado, Wyoming, Arkansas, and Alaska were down by 1 rig each to respective counts of 41, 39, 34, and 7.
Canada’s rotary rig count dropped 59 units to 209 rotary rigs working, down from 230 active in the same period a year ago.
Photo from SABIC Limburg BV.
US Department of the Interior.
