By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Mar. 11 -- US drilling activity continued to increase with 8 more rotary rigs working this week for a total of 1,715, up from 1,407 active in the comparable period a year ago, Baker Hughes Inc. reported.
Land operations accounted for the increase, up by 8 units to 1,673 drilling. Inland waters activity was unchanged at 17 rigs. Offshore drilling was flat with 25 rigs working, all in the Gulf of Mexico.
Of the active US rigs, 882 were drilling for natural gas, 17 fewer than the previous week. The number drilling for oil increased by 26 to 827. There were 6 rotary rigs unclassified. Horizontal drilling increased by 11 units to 981. Directional drilling decreased by 9 to 225.
Texas registered the biggest increase among major producing states, up 4 rigs to 737 drilling. Louisiana and Oklahoma gained 2 rigs each to 174 and 165, respectively. Pennsylvania, New Mexico, and California added 1 rig each for respective totals of 100, 77, and 41. Unchanged were Wyoming, 46; Arkansas, 34; and West Virginia, 21. North Dakota, Colorado, and Alaska each lost 1 rig to 153, 66, and 5, respectively.
Canada’s rotary rig count inched up by 3 units to 628 working this week, compared with 479 in the same period last year.
Rendering from Cedar LNG.
US Government Accountability Office.
