By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, June 16 -- The US set a new 20-year high with 1,672 rotary rigs working this week, up by 11 from the previous week and from 1,358 during this same period a year ago, Baker Hughes Inc. reported June 16.
That inched pass the previous high of 1,671 rigs drilling in the week ended Jan. 24, 1986, which had plunged from 1,773 rigs the previous week and was destined to continue falling to a low of 663 in the week ended July 11, 1986.
This week's gain was all in land operations, up by 14 rigs to 1,553 drilling. Activity in inland waters was unchanged with 25 rotary rigs working. But offshore drilling declined by 3 rigs to 94 in US waters, including the loss of 2 to 90 in the Gulf of Mexico.
New Mexico and California registered the biggest gains this week, up by 6 rigs each to 101 and 35 respectively. Wyoming's rig count increased by 4 to 104, while Texas was up 3 rigs to 752. There were 92 rigs drilling in Colorado, 2 more than the previous week. Alaska's rig count was unchanged at 9. Louisiana registered the biggest loss among major producing states, down by 7 rigs to 192 working. Oklahoma's rig count dropped by 2 to 180.
Canada had 441 rotary rigs working this week, down 2 from the previous week but up from 222 a year ago.
