By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Nov. 17 -- US drilling activity inched up with 3 more rotary rigs working the week ended Nov. 17 for a total of 1,696, up from 1,478 a year ago, said Baker Hughes Inc.
Land operations accounted for most of the gain, up by 2 rigs to 1,588 drilling. Inland waters added 1 rig for a total of 22. Offshore drilling was unchanged at 86 rigs in US waters as a whole, despite the decline of 1 rig to 81 in the US sector of the Gulf of Mexico.
Most of the major producing states offset changes in each other's weekly rig counts. New Mexico increased by 9 rigs to 92, but Texas lost 9 rigs to 771. Louisiana's gain of 7 rigs to 193 was washed out by Colorado's loss of the same number to 83. Oklahoma gained 2 units to 178, but California was down 2 at 35. Alaska was unchanged, with 6 rigs working. Wyoming dipped by 1 unit to 91 drilling.
Canada's weekly rig count increased by 6 to 452, down from 619 during the same period last year.
