By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Dec. 23-- US drilling activity increased by 2 rigs with 1,114 rotary rigs working, up from 862 at this time a year ago, officials at Baker Hughes Inc. reported Tuesday.
The increase was most evident in land operations, up by 5 units to 993 drilling. Offshore drilling declined by 2 rigs to 101 in the Gulf of Mexico and 104 in US waters as a whole. Operations in inland waters were down by 1 rig to 17 active.
Canada's rig count decreased by 187 to 308 this week, up from 277 a year ago.
In the US, the number of rigs drilling for oil decreased by 1 to 153 this week. But those drilling for natural gas increased by 3 to 959. There were 2 rigs unclassified, which was unchanged from the previous week.
Directional drilling decreased by 4 rigs to 265, and horizontal drilling dropped by 1 unit to 98.
Louisiana was the only state to show a decline, dropping 3 rigs to 159 rigs working.
Oklahoma led this week's increase, up by 4 units to a rig count of 141. New Mexico gained 1 rig to make a total of 67.
Alaska, California, Texas and Wyoming all were unchanged. Alaska had 12 rigs working, California had 23 rigs working, Texas had 480 rigs working, and Wyoming had 62 rigs working.