By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Feb. 17 -- US drilling continued to expand with 1,545 rotary rigs working, 13 more than the previous week and up from 1,295 a year ago, Baker Hughes reported Feb. 17.
Growth was reported in every category, with land operations up by 11 rigs to 1,445 working. Offshore drilling increased by 3 units to 78 rigs in the Gulf of Mexico but registered a net gain of only 1 rig to a total of 79 in US waters overall. Drilling in inland waters increased by 1 rig to 21.
Texas led the advance with the addition of 8 rigs for a total of 691. New Mexico's rig count jumped by 6 to 101. Louisiana increased by 2 rigs to 178, while Colorado was up by 1 to 83. Oklahoma and Alaska were unchanged at 173 and 10, respectively. Wyoming's count declined by 1 rotary rig to 95, while California lost 3 to 30.
Canada had 718 rigs working, 4 more than the previous week and up from 589 last year.
