The global count of active drilling rigs increased by 32 month-over-month in December 2017 to average 2,089, according to Baker Hughes data. The count is up 317 compared with the December 2016 average.
Latin America gained 14 units in December to 195, up 11 year-over-year. Venezuela gained 10 units to 50. Colombia was up 1 unit to 25. Mexico gained 6 units to 15. Brazil declined 2 units to 14. Bolivia remained unchanged at 3 units.
In North America, the US was up 19 units to 930, a rally of sorts, as it marked the first increase in average monthly rigs running since July 2017. Canada was up 1 unit to 205. The US remained up 296 year-over-year, while Canada was down 4 units year-over-year.
The Asia-Pacific region dropped 4 units during the month to 217 but was up 25 rigs compared with its December 2016 average. India was up 2 units to 116. Indonesia remained unchanged at 34. Brunei Darussalam gained 1 rig to 2 units. China Offshore gained 1 unit to 32. Malaysia gained 1 unit to 7. Thailand increased 1 unit to 7. Japan remained unchanged at 1 unit. No data were reported for Myanmar.
Africa declined 8 units during the month to 77, down 1 year-over-year. Algeria decreased 5 units to 50. Seven countries remained unchanged, namely Angola, 2; Chad, 1; Congo, 2; Gabon, 2; Kenya, 8; Libya, 1; and Mozambique, 1.
Europe gained 2 units in December to 87, down 12 units year-over-year. Turkey lost 4 units to 18. Offshore UK declined 1 unit to 4.
Offshore producer Norway gained 3 units to 16. The Netherlands gained 2 units to 4. Germany gained 1 unit to 3. Italy gained 1 unit to 4.
The Middle East remained unchanged month-over-month at 378, up 29 from its December 2016 average. Iraq climbed 2 units to 54. Pakistan gained 1 unit to 20.
Saudi Arabia declined 4 rigs to 111.
