US drilling hits 21-year high

Aug. 10, 2007
US drilling activity hit a new high for this year, up by 17 to 1,798 rotary rigs working, said Baker Hughes Inc.

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Aug. 10 -- US drilling activity hit a new high for this year, up by 17 to 1,798 rotary rigs working, said Baker Hughes Inc.

That surpasses this year's previous high rig count of 1,791 units 4 weeks ago and is the largest number of rotary rigs working in the US and its waters since the week ended Jan. 10, 1986, when 1,880 units were drilling. That compares with 1,728 rotary rigs working at this time a year ago.

As usual, land operations accounted for most of the latest gain, up 13 units to 1,697 this week. Inland waters activity increased by 6 rigs to 29. However, that was partially offset by the decline of 2 offshore rigs to 71 in the Gulf of Mexico and 72 in US waters overall.

Texas registered the biggest gain among major producing states, up 9 rigs to 844 working. Colorado gained 5 to 109, and Wyoming increased by 4 to 70. Oklahoma's rig count was up by 3 to 190 drilling. New Mexico gained 2 to 87, and California was unchanged with 36 rotary rigs working. Louisiana's rig count, meanwhile, declined by 3 to 178 and Alaska was down 1 rig with 6 still working.

Canada's weekly rig count fell by 17 units with 377 still drilling, down from 480 a year ago.