By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Dec. 29 -- US drilling slipped slightly the week ended Dec. 29, down by 13 units to 1,710 rotary rigs working, said Baker Hughes Inc.
That was up from 1,471 rigs drilling during the same period in 2005, however. The highest weekly US rig count this year was 1,762 units working in the week ended Aug. 18. That also was the largest number of rigs drilling in this country since Jan. 17, 1986. The lowest rig count of 2006 was 1,464 during the first week of the year.
All of the latest loss was in land rigs, down by 13 to 1,604 making hole. Offshore drilling was unchanged at 84 rotary rigs working federal waters, including 81 in the Gulf of Mexico. Activity in inland waters also was unchanged, with 22 rotary rigs still working.
Oklahoma registered the biggest loss of the week, down 6 units, with 174 still working. Louisiana lost 3 to 189. Colorado and Alaska were unchanged at 94 and 8, respectively. New Mexico had the biggest gain among the major producing states, up by 3 rigs to 91 working. Texas' rig count increased by 2 to 784. Wyoming and California gained 1 rig each to 85 and 34, respectively.
Canada's weekly rig count fell by 21 units to 429 still working. That's up from 364 in the same period last year.
