US crude oil and natural gas drilling rig activity this week climbed another 6 units, reaching a total of 1,991 rigs working. This week’s count is up by 341 units from the comparable period a year ago, Baker Hughes Inc. reported.
Most of the gain was seen in land rigs, which was up 5 rigs to 1,939 working. The total of offshore rigs was up 1 unit to 33 working. Inland water rigs, meanwhile, remained unchanged at 19.
Of the US rigs working, 1,071 were drilling for oil, up 9 rigs compared with last week. Rigs drilling for natural gas for the week ended Sept. 23 remained unchanged at 912 working.
There were 8 rotary rigs unclassified, which was down 3 rigs from last week.
Directional drilling activity increased by 1 unit to 242. Horizontal drilling gained 3 rigs to 1,140 units.
Among the top-producing US states, Texas again had the largest rig count increase, up 8 units to 903 working. North Dakota reached 190 rigs working, up 6. Colorado gained 2 rigs to reach 77. Wyoming, meanwhile, reached 52 rigs working, an increase of 1 unit. California, Arkansas, and West Virginia were unchanged from the previous week, reaching 53, 33, and 25, respectively. Losing 1 rig each were Oklahoma, with 198; New Mexico, 83; and Alaska, 7. Louisiana and Pennsylvania each lost 4 rigs, with respective counts of 152 and 109.
Canada’s count gained 3 units to 505 rigs working, which was up 223 units from the same period last year.