US rig count falls

Aug. 25, 2006
US drilling dipped again, down by 6 rotary rigs with 1,756 working, as the industry continued its latest pattern of two steps forward and one step back, said Baker Hughes Inc. That compares with 1,444 rigs working in the same period last year.

By OGJ editors

HOUSTON, Aug. 25 -- US drilling dipped again, down by 6 rotary rigs with 1,756 working, as the industry continued its latest pattern of two steps forward and one step back, said Baker Hughes Inc. That compares with 1,444 rigs working in the same period last year.

In the last 6 weeks, the weekly rig count climbed to 1,683, then 1,715, before dropping to 1,705; it next rebounded to 1,728 and climbed to 1,762 before falling again this week.

Land operations were responsible for this week's loss, down by 8 rigs with 1,631 still drilling. The number of rigs working inland waters increased by 1 to 25. Offshore drilling activity had a net gain of 1 rig to 100 drilling, including an increase of 3 rigs to 97 in the Gulf of Mexico.

Texas had the biggest loss this week among major producing states, down by 19 rigs to 790 still working. California dropped 5 units to 30, while Oklahoma was unchanged at 195. Losses were partially offset in Louisiana where the rig count jumped by 12 to 209. Rig counts in Colorado, New Mexico, and Alaska increased by 2 rigs each to 95, 93, and 6, respectively. Wyoming added 1 rig for a total of 109 drilling this week.

Canada's rig count increased by 18 to 489, down from 509 a year ago.