US drilling activity remained relatively flat, with 830 rotary rigs working during the week ended May 12, down 3 from the previous week but up strongly from 507 during the same period a year ago, Baker Hughes Inc. officials reported Friday.
Meanwhile, drilling activity in Canada continued to improve, following the seasonal slowdown from the spring thaw. There were 194 rigs working in Canada during the week, 24 more than the last count and up from a mere 48 a year ago.
In the US, New Mexico's rig count was up 5 to 72, while Oklahoma's inched up 1 to 93. Texas had 302 rigs working, down 7 from the previous week, and Louisiana's count was down 2 to 185.
All of the declines were on land or inland waters.
Baker Hughes reported 137 rigs working in the US sector of the Gulf of Mexico, up 3.
Of the US rigs that were working, 634 were drilling for gas, 2 more than the previous week.
