By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Dec. 27 -- US drilling activity rebounded somewhat, up by 12 rotary rigs to 1,475 working last week after dropping 20 the previous week, Baker Hughes Inc. reported Dec. 22. That compared with 1,257 rigs drilling during the same period in 2004.
Land operations accounted for most of last week's gain, up by 9 units to 1,377 drilling. Offshore drilling increased by five units to 79 in US waters, including 75 in the Gulf of Mexico. Drilling in inland waters decreased by 2 rotary rigs to 19 working.
Most of the major producing states reported increased rig counts. Texas was up by 11 rigs to lead the pack with 663 active rigs. Louisiana increased by 3 to 167, while Oklahoma, New Mexico, and California gained 2 each to respective totals of 155, 97, and 33. Colorado increased by 1 rig to 81 working, while Alaska was unchanged with 10 rigs still active. Wyoming's weekly rig count declined by 3 to 90 rotary rigs at work.
Canada's weekly rig count plummeted by 117 units to 532 rotary rigs working. That was up from 371 at the same time last year.