US drilling rig count gains 2 units to 1,759

July 12, 2013
The US drilling rig count made a 2-unit gain during the week ended July 12 to reach a total of 1,759 rotary rigs working, Baker Hughes Inc. reported.

The US drilling rig count made a 2-unit gain during the week ended July 12 to reach a total of 1,759 rotary rigs working, Baker Hughes Inc. reported.

Land-based rigs saw a 4-unit jump this week to reach 1,680. The offshore rig count fell 2 units to reach 57 rigs working. Rigs drilling in inland waters remained unchanged this week at 22. Of the rigs drilling offshore, 55 were in the Gulf of Mexico, a decrease of 2 units from a week ago.

Rigs drilling for oil lost 4 units to reach 1,391, while those targeting gas gained 7 units to reach 362 rigs working. Six rigs were considered unclassified, a decline of 1 rig from a week ago.

Rigs drilling horizontally were reported at 1,058, down 10 units from a week ago, and 108 fewer than the comparable week last year. Rigs drilling directionally rose 14 units this week to reach 269. This compared with 232 rigs working horizontally in the comparable week a year ago.

Canada’s rig count gained 80 units this week to reach 294. This count includes 201 rigs drilling for oil (up 49 units from a week ago) and 93 units drilling for gas (up 31 units from last week). Canada’s rig count total was down 2 units from the comparable week last year.

Major states, basins

Of the major oil and gas producing states, New Mexico gained 3 rigs to reach 81. Wyoming and Ohio, at respective counts of 51 and 35, were down 2 rigs each. Four states made single-rig gains: Texas, 836; Louisiana, 104; Kansas, 29; and Alaska, 9. There were five states unchanged this week, namely Colorado, 66; Pennsylvania, 53; California, 40; Utah, 32; and Arkansas, 14. West Virginia lost 1 rig to reach 24. North Dakota, at 174, was down 3 rigs. Oklahoma lost 5 to reach 169 units working.

Baker Hughes this week started including rig counts by major US basins in its rig count summary. Notable changes this week include a 3-rig loss in Williston basin, which reached 185; 2-rig losses in both the Permian and Granite Wash basins, with respective counts this week of 463 and 68; and 1-rig losses in the Marcellus, Mississippian, and Cana Woodford basins, with respective counts of 75, 71, and 34. The Utica basin was up 2 rigs to 37. The Eagle Ford was up 1 rig to 231. All other reported basins were unchanged this week: Haynesville, 40; Barnett, 33; Ardmore Woodford, 14; Fayetteville, 12; and Arkoma Woodford, 2.