By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Mar. 2 -- US drilling activity dipped slightly this week with a net loss of 2 rotary rigs, but 1,752 are still working. That's up from 1,531 active rigs in the same period last year, said Baker Hughes Inc.
Land operations accounted for that loss, down by 10 rigs with 1,627 still drilling. This was partially offset by a jump of 5 rigs in offshore operations, up to 90 rigs working in the Gulf of Mexico and 94 in US waters as a whole. Inland waters drilling also increased, by 3 rigs, to 31 at work.
Wyoming had the biggest gain in its rig count among major producing states, up by 9 to 78 rotary rigs working. The only other gain this week was in Louisiana, up by 3 rigs to 209 occupied. Oklahoma and Alaska were unchanged during the week, with respective rig counts of 182 and 14. On the other hand, New Mexico dropped 10 rigs to 75 drilling. Texas and Colorado were down 2 each to 810 and 93, respectively. California's rig count dipped by 1 to 31.
Canada had 601 rotary rigs working this week, down 2 from the previous week, and down from 688 a year ago.
