The overall US drilling rig count fell 2 units to 698 during the shortened holiday week ended Dec. 31. The total is down 1,113 rigs from the same week a year ago, according to Baker Hughes Inc. data.
Land-based rigs fell 3 units to 672 from a week ago, while those drilling offshore rose 1 unit to 25 rigs. These counts are down 1,072 and 30 units, respectively, from a year ago. Rigs drilling in inland waters were unchanged this week at 1 unit.
Oil-directed rigs were down 2 units to 536. This is down 946 units from the same week a year ago. Gas-directed rigs now total 162, unchanged from last week (OGJ Online, Dec. 18, 2015).
Rigs engaged in horizontal drilling lost 5 units to 549, still down 787 year-over-year. Directional drilling rigs were unchanged at 60 units.
Canada’s total rig count plunged 43 units this week to 83, down 125 year-over-year. Gas-directed rigs dropped 11 units to 71, while oil-directed rigs lost 32 units to 12.
Among the major oil and gas producing states, North Dakota, at 53, and California, at 7, were both down 2 rigs from a week ago. Three states lost 1 rig this week: Oklahoma, 87; West Virginia, 15; and Ohio, 14. Seven states were unchanged from a week ago: New Mexico, 38; Colorado, 24; Wyoming, 17; Kansas, 12; Alaska, 11; Utah, 3; and Arkansas, 1.
Pennsylvania, at 27 rigs this week, was up 1 unit. Texas and Louisiana were both up 2 units to respective counts of 321 and 58.
