By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Apr. 23 -- US drilling activity declined for the first time in 9 weeks, down 9 rotary rigs with 1,482 still working, compared with a rig count of 955 during the same period a year ago, Baker Hughes Inc. reported.
Land operations accounted for most of the drop, down 6 units to 1,415 drilling. Offshore operations declined by 3 rigs to 52 in the Gulf of Mexico and a total of 53 in US coastal waters. Inland waters were unchanged with 14 rigs drilling.
Of the US rigs working, 956 were drilling for natural gas, 17 fewer than the previous week. The number drilling for oil increased by 8 to 514. There were 12 rotary rigs unclassified. Horizontal drilling declined by 1 rig to 753. Directional drilling was unchanged with 232 rigs working.
Louisiana suffered the biggest loss this week, down 9 rotary rigs to 206 working. Texas dropped 4 to 641. Alaska was down 1 unit to 9. Colorado, Arkansas, Wyoming, and West Virginia were unchanged with respective counts of 51, 44, 35, and 22. Oklahoma, New Mexico, and California gained 1 rig each to 120, 50, and 31, respectively. North Dakota’s and Pennsylvania’s rig counts increased by 2 each to 97 and 78.
Canada’s rotary rig count fell by 12 to 110 this week, vs. 65 units drilling in the comparable week last year.
Rendering from Cedar LNG.
US Government Accountability Office.
