US drilling dips for second week

Aug. 20, 2004
US drilling activity slipped for the second consecutive week, down by 2 to 1,230 rotary rigs working, said Baker Hughes Inc. officials Friday.

By OGJ editors

HOUSTON, Aug. 20 -- US drilling activity slipped for the second consecutive week, down by 2 to 1,230 rotary rigs working, said Baker Hughes Inc. officials Friday. That compares with 1,082 active units during the same period in 2003.

Land operations were down by 2 units to 1,115 working this week. Inland-water activity decreased by 1 rig to 20. However, offshore drilling increased by 2 units to 91 in the Gulf of Mexico but was up nationwide by only 1 rig to a total 95.

Canada's weekly rig count jumped by 34 to 391 rotary rigs working, still below 396 a year ago.