By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Sept. 22 -- US drilling activity continued climbing for the third consecutive week, up by 17 rotary rigs to 1,754 working, said Baker Hughes Inc. That's up from 1,451 rigs in this same period a year ago.
Land operations accounted for this week's gain, up by 20 rigs to 1,641 drilling. Inland waters activity increased by 2 rigs to 23. That was offset, however, by a decline of 5 offshore rigs to 90 in US waters, including 86 in the Gulf of Mexico.
Texas had the biggest increase among major producing states, up by 8 rigs to 788. California gained 4 for a total of 33. Oklahoma and Wyoming added 3 rigs each for respective totals of 196 and 112. Colorado's rig count increased by 2 to 96, while Alaska was up 1 to 6. Louisiana, on the other hand, lost 4 rigs with 198 units still working. New Mexico was down by 2 to 94.
Canada's weekly rig count plunged by 122 units to 380 still working, down from 426 in the same period last year.
