Reversing last week’s 1-unit loss, the US drilling rig count jumped 29 units to 975 rigs working during the week ended Feb. 9, data from Baker Hughes indicate (OGJ Online, Feb. 2, 2017). This total is up 234 units from a year ago.
Offshore units remain unchanged from last week with 16 rigs working in the Gulf of Mexico. A total 957 rigs were drilling on land, up 28 from last week. The number of rigs drilling in inland waters was up 1 to reach 2 units.
Rigs targeting oil were up 26 units to 791 and were also up from the 591 rigs drilling for oil this week a year ago. Gas-targeted rigs were up 3 units to reach 184 units. This time a year ago, 149 units were drilling for gas.
Among the major oil and gas-producing states, Texas saw the largest increase in rigs week over week with a 14-unit gain to reach 479 rigs working.
North Dakota and Wyoming each gained 4 units to reach 49 and 30, respectively. Gaining 3 rigs were New Mexico and Louisiana, reaching 88 and 61 rigs working, respectively. Oklahoma gained one rig to 118 units working, and Kansas gained 1 unit, its only rig running.
Colorado lost the only rig week-over-week, down 1 unit to 33 rigs running.
Seven states remained unchanged, namely Pennsylvania, 37; Ohio, 23; West Virginia, 19; California, 14; Utah, 10; Alaska, 5; and Arkansas, 0.
Canada lost 17 units to 325 rigs from a week ago. There are 27 less rigs working than this week a year ago. Oil-directed rigs dropped 13 units this week to 221, while those targeting gas fell 4 units to 104.
