By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Jan. 12 -- US drilling activity increased for the second consecutive week, up by 22 rotary rigs to 1,717 working, said Baker Hughes Inc.
Land drilling was responsible for most of the gain, with the addition of 23 rigs for a total of 1,611 active. Activity in inland waters increased by 1 rig to 23 drilling. That was offset by the loss of 2 rigs offshore to 83 working in federal waters, including the loss of 1 to 81 in the Gulf of Mexico.
Texas activity jumped, up by 22 rigs to 789 at work. Oklahoma gained 7 to 183, while Louisiana was up by 6 to 190. Wyoming increased by 3 rigs to 85. California has 35 rigs working this week, 1 more than last week, while Alaska was unchanged with 9 rigs drilling. New Mexico's rig count dropped by 6 to 86. Colorado was down 4 to 91.
Canada's weekly rig count shot up by 169 to 586 drilling, as seasonal conditions improved. That's down from 674 during the same period in 2006, however.
