By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Jan. 28 -- US drilling activity continued to increase, up 19 to 1,732 rotary rigs working this week, compared with 1,317 at this time last year, Baker Hughes Inc. reported.
Land operations gained 18 rigs with 1,689 units drilling. Inland waters activity increased by 2 units to 17. That was partially offset offshore where 1 rig came off a job leaving 26 still active—all in the Gulf of Mexico.
Of the US rigs working, 913 were drilling for natural gas, 7 more than the previous week. The number drilling for oil increased by 11 to 809. There were 10 rotary rigs unclassified. Horizontal drilling increased by 7 to 973. Directional drilling gained 4 units for a total of 237.
Pennsylvania’s count had the biggest increase, up by 10 to 108 rotary rigs drilling. Louisiana was next with a gain of 5 to 174, while New Mexico had 77 units working, 4 more than the previous week. Alaska gained 3, doubling its rig count to 6. Colorado added 2 units for a total 64. Wyoming increased by 1 unit to 47. West Virginia was unchanged, with 20 rotary rigs working. Texas, North Dakota, and California were down 1 rig each to respective counts of 740, 154, and 40. Oklahoma and Arkansas lost 2 rigs each to 166 and 36, respectively.
Canada’s rotary rig count increased by 16 to 637 compared with 531 working in the same period a year ago.
Rendering from Cedar LNG.
US Government Accountability Office.
