By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Sept. 2 -- Total US drilling activity continued to climb this week, although offshore operations took a hit from Hurricane Katrina, Baker Hughes Inc. reported Sept. 2.
There were 1,447 rotary rigs drilling in the US this week, 3 more than the previous week and up from 1,249 during the same period a year ago.
This week's gain came from land rigs, up by 7 to 1,326. Activity in inland waters was unchanged with 25 rotary rigs working. However, offshore drilling was down by 4 rigs to 92 in the Gulf of Mexico and 96 in the US overall.
Baker Hughes counts a rig as active in the Gulf of Mexico if it has spudded a well but not yet drilled it to target depth. The weekly rig count does not reflect delays resulting from weather or other causes. But a rig will be removed from the active rig count if confirmed as lost or significantly damaged.
By the Aug. 31 cutoff for this week's count, Baker Hughes officials said, "Four Gulf of Mexico rigs met this criterion. Subsequent to our cutoff for this week's rig count, we have confirmed the loss or significant damage of additional Gulf of Mexico rigs which will be reflected in next week's rig count."
There were 521 rotary rigs working in Canada this week, 12 more than the previous week and up sharply from 295 during the same period last year.