By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Mar. 26 -- US drilling activity continued to increase, up by 17 units to 1,444 rotary rigs working this week, compared with 1,039 during the same period a year ago, Baker Hughes Inc. reported.
Land operations accounted for most of the gain, up 14 rigs with 1,376 drilling. Inland waters activity increased by 1 rig to 15. US offshore gained 2 rigs to 51 in the Gulf of Mexico and a total 53 rigs in US waters.
Of the US rigs working, 941 were drilling for natural gas, 2 more than the previous week. The number drilling for oil increased by 15 to 489. There were 14 rotary rigs unclassified. Horizontal drilling increased by 14 rigs to 725. Directional drilling added 2 rigs for a total 227.
Texas had the biggest increase among major producing states, up by 5 rigs to 600 working. Oklahoma and Pennsylvania gained 4 rigs each to respective counts of 119 and 77. North Dakota and Alaska increased by 2 units each to 95 and 13, respectively. Arkansas and West Virginia each added a rig for respective totals of 43 and 22. Louisiana, Wyoming, and California were unchanged at 213, 37, and 28 respectively. Colorado and New Mexico each dropped 3 rigs, down to respective counts of 50 and 48.
Canada’s rotary rig count fell by 117 to 203 due to the seasonal thaw that makes it difficult to move rigs. That compares with 104 rotary rigs drilling in the comparable week last year.
File photo from PDVSA..
Photo from Odfjell Drilling.
