US drilling continues at high levels

Feb. 11, 2005
US drilling activity jumped by 32 units to 1,280 rotary rigs working, Baker Hughes Inc. reported Feb. 11. That's up from 1,111 rigs drilling during the same period a year ago.

By OGJ editors

HOUSTON, Feb. 11 -- US drilling activity jumped by 32 units to 1,280 rotary rigs working, Baker Hughes Inc. reported Feb. 11. That's up from 1,111 rigs drilling during the same period a year ago.

During the first 6 weeks of 2005, the US rig count has averaged 1,258 units, with the largest weekly rig counts for that comparable period since the first 6 weeks of 1986 when weekly counts ran the gambit of 1,496-1,915.

Land drilling registered the biggest increase this latest week, up by 23 rigs to 1,150 working. Inland water operations increased by 2 units to 25 rigs working.

Offshore drilling in US waters was up by 7 rigs to 105, including an increase of 5 to 98 rigs working in the Gulf of Mexico.

Canada had 589 rotary rigs working this week, 13 more than the previous week and up from 586 a year ago.