By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, May 8 -- US drilling continued to increase with 1,625 rotary rigs working, 17 more than the previous week and up from 1,324 during the same period a year ago, Baker Hughes Inc. reported May 5.
As usual, land operations accounted for the increase, up by 18 units to 1,505. Inland waters lost 1 rig, leaving 24. Offshore drilling was unchanged with 96 rigs working, including 90 in the Gulf of Mexico.
Texas contributed most of the increase with 743 rigs working, up by 13 from the previous week. Rig counts in Oklahoma and Colorado increased by 3 units each to 177 and 85, respectively. Louisiana and Alaska were unchanged at 194 and 7. Wyoming and New Mexico lost 3 rigs each to 99 and 94, respectively. California was down by 2 rigs to 32 working.
Canada's weekly rig count increased by 17 to 167, down from 194 last year.
