By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Apr. 13 -- US drilling jumped to a new 20-year high, up by 31 units with a total of 1,610 rotary rigs working, Baker Hughes Inc. reported Apr. 13.
That's up from 1,348 rigs working during the same period last year and the highest count since the week ended Jan. 24, 1986, when 1,671 rotary rigs were drilling in the US and its waters.
As usual, land operations accounted for the latest increase, up by 32 rigs to 1,494 working. Activity in inland waters increased by 1 rig to 22. Offshore drilling decreased by 2 rigs to 94 in US waters, however, including the decline of 1 rig to 90 in the Gulf of Mexico.
Texas showed the biggest increase, up by 13 rigs to 730 working. Wyoming and Colorado gained 4 rigs each to 106 and 88, respectively. Oklahoma added 1 for a total of 173. California was down by 2 rigs to 33. In the other major producing states, rig counts were unchanged at 184 in Louisiana, 95 in New Mexico, and 9 in Alaska.
Canada's rig count fell by 73 rigs to 196 still active in the seasonal thaw. That is up from 160 a year ago.
