By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, June 3 -- US drilling activity increased this week to the highest level this year with 1,353 rotary rigs working, up by 22 from the previous week and from 1,168 in the same period last year, said Baker Hughes Inc.
It's also the highest weekly total since late February 1986, when 1,376 rigs were drilling. The previous high this year was 1,348 rigs working during the week ended Apr. 15.
Most of this week's increase was on land, with 1,231 rotary rigs working, 18 more than the previous week. Offshore drilling also increased by 4 units to 98 in US waters, including an increase of 3 to 94 in the Gulf of Mexico. Activity in inland waters was unchanged, with 24 rotary rigs at work.
Drilling in Canada increased by104 rotary rigs to 375 working this week. That's up from 256 during the same period a year ago.