By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Nov. 7 -- US drilling activity rebounded by 7 rotary rigs to 1,114 this week, approaching the 2-year high of 1,115 for the week ended Oct. 17, said officials Friday at Baker Hughes Inc.
The latest count is up considerably from the 826 rigs that were working in the US and its waters during the same period last year. Land operations led the latest increase, up by 7 units with 990 drilling. Offshore activity also increased by 4 to 109 in US waters as a whole, including the addition of 3 rigs for 104 in the US sector of the Gulf of Mexico. However, offshore gains were offset by a drop in inland waters operations, down by 4 rigs to 15 active this week.
Canada's rig count increased by 2 to 378 this week, up from 262 a year ago.
Among US rigs, those drilling for natural gas increased by 8 to 952 this week. Oil drilling decreased by 1 rig to 160, and 2 units were unclassified. Directional drilling was up by 14 rigs to 272, while horizontal drilling added 3 rigs for an even 100 this week.
Texas accounted for most of this week's gain, up by 6 rotary rigs with 471 drilling. California and Alaska increased by 1 rig each to 27 and 11 respectively. However, those gains were offset by losses in Louisiana and Wyoming, down by 4 rigs each to 164 and 62, respectively. Oklahoma's rig count declined by 2 to 138 units, and New Mexico was down by 1 to 64.
ODS-Petrodata Consulting & Research, Houston, reported the number of mobile offshore rigs under contract in the US sector of the gulf increased by 1 to 123 this week out of an available fleet of 165. That boosted the utilization rate to 74.5% in those waters.
In European waters, the number of contracted rigs dipped by 1 to 75, with the available fleet also losing 1 unit to 95. As a result, utilization declined slightly to 78.9%. Worldwide, however, there was a net gain of 3 contracted rigs to 528, while the total fleet increased by 1 unit to 656, with total utilization of mobile offshore rigs inching up to 80.5%.
Baker Hughes also reported Friday that the average number of rotary rigs working international markets outside of the US and Canada declined by 2 to 790 in the month of October but is up from 746 during the same period last year. The latest count included a gain of 3 to 232 offshore rigs making hole last month, while land operations were down by 5 rigs to 558.
Latin America registered the biggest gain, up by 7 rigs to an average 266 working last month. The Asia Pacific market increased by 3 rigs for 184 active and Africa was up 1 to 51. However, the European rig count dropped by 7 to 80, and the Middle East was down by 6 rigs to 209.
The US workover rig count fell to an average 1,132 active during October, down from 1,187 in September but up from 1,006 a year ago, Baker Hughes said. Canada averaged 373 active workover rigs in October, up from 348 the previous month and 274 in the same period last year.