The US drilling rig count fell by 13 units during the week ended Oct. 26, with the total number of rotary rigs reaching 1,826, reported Baker Hughes Inc. This compares with 2,021 rigs working during the comparable week last year.
Land rigs plunged by 15 units to 1,759. Rigs drilling in inland waters dropped by 1 unit to 15 rigs. There were 52 rigs drilling offshore, 3 more than a week ago. Of these rigs, 48 were drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, 5 more than last week.
Of the recent week’s total, rigs drilling for oil decreased by 2 units to 1,408. Rigs targeting gas fell by 11 units to 416 rigs. Two active rotaries were unclassified, unchanged from a week ago.
Rigs drilling directionally were reported at 209, up 9 from a week ago but 34 fewer than the comparable week last year. The number of rigs drilling horizontally decreased by 9 units to 1,105 rigs. This compares with 1,155 in the comparable week a year ago.
Of the major oil and gas producing states, Texas fell by 7 units to 860 rigs working this week. New Mexico was off 5 rigs to 82. Oklahoma and Alaska, at 186 and 9, respectively, were down by 3 units. West Virginia was down 2 rigs to 24. Five states were unchanged this week: Pennsylvania, 66; Colorado, 63; Wyoming, 50; California, 35; and Arkansas, 17. Three states gained rigs this week: North Dakota, up 1 to 180; Ohio, up 2 to 25; and Lousiana, up 4 to 109.
Canada’s rig count was 370, which includes 281 rigs drilling for oil and 88 units drilling for gas. The total was up 15 units from the previous week but down 129 units from last year’s comparable week.
