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.