US rig count dips from 21-year high

July 23, 2007
US drilling activity dipped slightly last week from a 21-year high with a net loss of one rotary rig and 1,790 still working, Baker Hughes Inc. reported.

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, July 23 -- US drilling activity dipped slightly last week from a 21-year high with a net loss of one rotary rig and 1,790 still working, Baker Hughes Inc. reported.

That compares with 1,683 rotary rigs working during the same period a year ago.

All of the current loss was in land operations, down 7 rigs to 1,685 drilling. Inland water activity increased by 2 rigs to 25 making hole. Offshore drilling was up by 4 units to 80 working in US waters overall, including a rise of 3 to 78 in the Gulf of Mexico.

Oklahoma had the biggest gain among the major producing states, up 3 to 189. Wyoming increased by 2 to 71. Texas and Alaska added 1 rig each, with respective weekly counts of 838 and 9. California was unchanged at 38 rigs drilling. Colorado reported the biggest loss, down 6 to 106. New Mexico's weekly count fell by 5 to 80. Louisiana lost 1 unit with 181 still working.

Canada's weekly rig count increased by 17 to 377, down sharply from 533 a year ago.