By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Mar. 24 -- US drilling activity hit a 19-year high this week with 1,331 rotary rigs working, Baker Hughes Inc. reported Mar. 24.
That's 11 more than the previous week and the highest weekly total since late February 1986, when 1,376 rigs were drilling. The latest count is up from 1,150 a year ago.
Land drilling led the increase, up by 12 rigs to 1,208 working. Drilling in inland waters increased by 2 to 28. However, offshore drilling was down by 3 rigs to 95, including a loss of 2 to 91 in the Gulf of Mexico.
With progression of the seasonal thaw, Canada's rig count was down by 13 to 316, compared with 320 rigs working at this time a year ago.