Baker Hughes: US drilling activity continues decline

March 8, 2002
Drilling activity in the US has continued to decline, with rotary rigs down 13 from a week ago—reaching 769 this week—and down from 1,158 rigs during the same period last year, officials said Friday at Baker Hughes Inc., Houston.


By the OGJ Online Staff
HOUSTON, Mar. 8 -- Drilling activity in the US has continued to decline, with rotary rigs down 13 from a week ago—reaching 769 this week—and down from 1,158 rigs during the same period last year, officials said Friday at Baker Hughes Inc., Houston.

Similar to the trend seen last week, drilling activity was driven largely by declines in land operations and drilling for natural gas. Of the rigs working this week, 624 were drilling for gas, 15 fewer than a week prior. Meanwhile, rigs drilling for oil were up 2, reaching 144 for the week, with 1 rig remaining unclassified.

Baker Hughes said that 639 land rigs were working this week, 8 fewer than the prior week. There were 15 rigs drilling in inland waters, down 1 rig from last week. In the Gulf of Mexico, there were 110 rigs, down 3, from the week before. Total US offshore activity was down 4 to 115 rigs overall.

ODS-Petrodata Group, Houston, reported one less rig under contract in the gulf this week, pulling the rig utilization rate up slightly to 59%. Out of the 200 mobile offshore drilling rigs available, 118 are under contract.

Worldwide utilization among mobile offshore drilling rigs hovered near 80% this week, down to 79.5%, with 521 rigs under contract out of the 655 available in the drilling fleet. Activity in European waters was down as well at 87.4% utilization, with 90 units under contract of the 103 available.

Of the total US rigs working this week, 227 were involved in directional drilling projects, up 1 from a week ago. Those rigs performing horizontal drilling were down 1 from a week prior, reaching 53.

Texas led the drop in the US, down another 7 rigs to 321. Louisiana was 6 rigs down this week, reaching 152. New Mexico and Wyoming both lost 1 rig, at 36 and 40, respectively. Oklahoma and Alaska both remained unchanged this week, with 73 and 15 rigs, respectively, while California gained a rig, reaching 21.