US drilling continues to climb

Feb. 10, 2006
US drilling continued to explore new 20-year highs with 1,532 rotary rigs working, 19 more than the previous week and up from 1,280 during the same period last year, Baker Hughes Inc. reported Feb. 10.

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Feb. 10 -- US drilling continued to explore new 20-year highs with 1,532 rotary rigs working, 19 more than the previous week and up from 1,280 during the same period last year, Baker Hughes Inc. reported Feb. 10.

That's the highest weekly rig count since Jan. 31, 1986, when 1,594 rigs were drilling in the US.

Land operations accounted for most of this week's gain, up by 13 rigs with 1,434 drilling. Offshore drilling had a gross gain of 6 working rigs to 78, including an increase of 7 to 75 in the Gulf of Mexico. Activity in inland waters was unchanged with 20 rigs at work.

Canada had 714 rotary rigs working this week, 13 fewer than the previous week but up from 589 a year ago.