The US drilling rig count gained 3 units during the week ended Nov. 16, with the total number of rotary rigs reaching 1,809, as reported by Baker Hughes Inc. This compares with 2,001 rigs working in the comparable week last year.
Rigs drilling on land and offshore were unchanged this week, remaining at 1,740 and 50, respectively. Rigs drilling in inland waters were up 3 units to 19. Of those rigs drilling offshore, 48 were in the Gulf of Mexico, 1 more than last week.
Rigs targeting natural gas climbed 4 units this week, reaching 417. Rigs drilling for oil increased by 1 unit to 1,390. There were 2 rigs unclassified, 2 less than a week ago.
Rigs drilling directionally were reported at 194, unchanged from a week ago and 19 fewer than the comparable week last year. The number of rigs drilling horizontally was up by 1 rig, reaching 1,105. This compares with 1,147 in the comparable week a year ago.
Of the major oil and gas producing states, Louisiana gained 5 rigs to reach 114. Colorado, at 58, was up 3 units. Three states gained 1 rig this week: California, 34; West Virginia, 27; and Ohio, 26. North Dakota, at 178, and Arkansas, at 17, were unchanged from last week. Texas and Wyoming, at respective counts of 851 and 51, were down 1 unit each. Four states lost 2 rigs this week: Oklahoma, 189; New Mexico, 76; Pennsylvania, 66; and Alaska, 7.
Canada’s rig count was 384, up 14 units from last week. This count includes 278 rigs drilling for oil and 106 units drilling for gas. The total was down 103 units from the comparable week last year.