By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Nov. 18 -- US drilling activity dipped by 1 unit to 1,478 rotary rigs working this week, up from 1,266 during the same period last year, said Baker Hughes Inc.
Changes were reported in every category. Land drilling was down by 1 rig with 1,374 rotary rigs working. Drilling in inland waters also dipped by 1 rig, to 21 still active. Offshore drilling increased by 2 rigs to 79 drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. However, for federal waters as a whole, there was a net increase of 1 offshore rig to 83 active.
Among the major producing states, rig counts declined by 6 to 657 in Texas, by 3 each to 89 in Wyoming and 30 in California, and by 1 to 88 in New Mexico. That was partially offset by rig count increases of 4 to 181 in Louisiana and by 1 each to 156 in Oklahoma and 83 in Colorado. Alaska's rig count was unchanged at 9.
In Canada, drilling activity jumped by 50 rigs to 619 working, as colder weather eased rig movements. That's up from 444 rigs working in Canada at this time last year.