By the OGJ Online Staff
HOUSTON, Nov. 16 -- North American drilling activity continued to fall this week, with 1,261 rotary rigs drilling in Canada and in the US and its waters, said Baker Hughes Inc., Houston.
That was down 19 from last week.
Canada's count was 268, down 2 from last week.
In the US, 993 rigs were working: 840 on land, 19 in inland waters, and 134 offshore. Nine fewer land rigs were working than this time last week, though the two marine categories each gained 1.
Also in the US, the rigs were drilling 173 oil wells, down 3 from last week, and 820 gas wells, down 14 from last week. That included 249 directional wells and 76 horizontal wells.
Wyoming lost 7 rigs this week for a total of 43 working; Louisiana's count was 183, down 4; New Mexico, 43, down 3; and California, 36, down 1. Texas' count was 409, up 4; Oklahoma's was 94, up 2; and Alaska's was 14, up 1.
ODS-Petrodata Group, Houston, said mobile offshore drilling units under contract worldwide rose slightly over last week to 81.4% of the fleet of 652, as five more rigs came under contract.
In the US Gulf of Mexico, 59.9% of the 207-rig fleet was under contract. Last week the gulf contract rate was 58.2% of 208.
In the Europe-Mediterranean Sea area, 95.2% of the 104-rig fleet was under contract. Last week the area's contract rate was 95.1% of 103.
ODS-Petrodata also said that in the Gulf of Mexico, 52.7% of the 74 platform drilling units available were under contract.