BHI: US rig count continues rise, reaches 1,913

The US drilling rig count gained 5 units to reach 1,913 rigs working during the week ended Aug. 15, Baker Hughes Inc. reported.

All of the increase occurred on land, where 9 more units came online to total 1,841. Rigs drilling in inland waters cut into those gains by dropping 4 units to settle at 10. Offshore rigs were unchanged from a week ago at 62.

Gas rigs increased 5 units to 321. Oil rigs edged up a unit to 1,589, while rigs considered unclassified edged down a unit to 3.

Horizontal drilling rigs jumped 12 units to 1,329. Directional drilling rigs gained 3 units to 216.

In Canada, a 14-unit rise to 401 largely consisted of a 12-unit rise in gas rigs to 177. Oil rigs increased 2 units to 224. Compared with this week a year ago, Canada now has 43 more rigs working.

Major states, basins

Wyoming boasted the biggest increase of the major oil and gas-producing states, gaining 7 units to total 55. Neighboring Colorado increased 4 units to 75. North Dakota, Louisiana, and West Virginia each gained 3 units to 185, 116, and 29, respectively. Alaska edged up a unit to 9.

Unchanged from a week ago were New Mexico at 94, Pennsylvania at 51, Kansas at 26, and Arkansas at 11.

California and Ohio each edged down a unit to 47 and 42, respectively. Oklahoma and Utah each dropped 2 units to respective totals of 209 and 23. Texas reported the largest drop, losing 7 units to 901.

Reflecting increases in Wyoming and Colorado, the DJ-Niobrara, up 5 units to 62, reported the largest gain in the major US basins. The Marcellus was up 3 rigs, now totaling 77. A loss of 4 units in the Granite Wash to 69 marked the largest drop.