By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Mar. 26 -- US drilling activity increased by 22 rotary rigs to 1,150 this week, the biggest number since mid-September 2001, Baker Hughes Inc. reported Friday. That's up from 962 in the same period last year.
All of the gain was in land operations, up by 28 to 1,046 rigs working. Inland waters activity was down by 3 rigs to 14, while offshore operations decreased by 4 rigs to 88 drilling in the Gulf of Mexico and by 3 to 90 in US waters as a whole.
With the seasonal thaw, Canada's rotary rig count plunged by 131 to 320 this week, compared with 288 a year ago.
