US drilling rig count gains 6 units to 1,806

Nov. 9, 2012
The US drilling rig count gained 6 units during the week ended Nov. 9, with the total number of rotary rigs reaching 1,806, reported Baker Hughes Inc. This compares with 2,016 rigs working during the comparable week last year.

The US drilling rig count gained 6 units during the week ended Nov. 9, with the total number of rotary rigs reaching 1,806, reported Baker Hughes Inc. This compares with 2,016 rigs working during the comparable week last year.

Land rigs climbed by 7 units to 1,740. Rigs drilling in inland waters remained unchanged this week at 16 rigs. Offshore drilling dropped off by 1 unit to reach 50, of which 47 were drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, down 1 rig from a week ago.

Of the recent week’s total, rigs drilling for oil increased by 16 units to 1,389. Rigs targeting gas lost 11 units to 413. Four active rotaries were unclassified, 1 more than a week ago.

Rigs drilling directionally were reported at 194, down 1 unit from a week ago and 37 fewer than the comparable week last year. The number of rigs drilling horizontally was off by 1 rig as well, reaching 1,104. This compares with 1,152 in the comparable week a year ago.

Of the major oil and gas producing states, Texas gained 12 units to 852 rigs working. North Dakota, at 178, was up 4 units. Pennsylvania and Alaska, with respective counts of 68 and 9, were up 2 rigs each. Wyoming, at 52, and West Virginia, at 26, each jumped 1 unit. California remained unchanged at 33 rigs. Four states lost 1 rig each, namely Oklahoma, 191; Louisiana, 109; Colorado, 55; and Arkansas, 17. Ohio, at 25 units was down by 2 rigs; New Mexico was off 3 to 78 units working.

Canada’s rig count was 370, a loss of 13 units this week. This count includes 268 rigs drilling for oil and 102 units drilling for gas. The total was down 130 units from the comparable week last year.