By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Jan. 18 -- US drilling activity continued falling for the sixth consecutive week, down 12 rotary rigs to 1,732, said Baker Hughes Inc.
That compared with 1,745 rotary rigs drilling in the same period a year ago, marking the first time that the weekly rig count has fallen below year-ago levels since 2002.
All of the latest loss was in land drilling, down 17 units to 1,648 working. Inland water activity increased by 5 rotary rigs to 25. Offshore drilling was unchanged at 59 rigs on federal leases, including 57 in the Gulf of Mexico.
Colorado had the biggest loss this week among major producing states, down 9 rotary rigs with 94 still drilling. Texas lost 5 to 854. Oklahoma dropped 3 to 187; New Mexico and California lost 1 rig each to 68 and 41, respectively. That was partially offset by Louisiana, which was up 8 rigs to 147 working. Wyoming and Alaska gained 1 rig each, to respective counts of 74 and 8.
Canada's rig count continued to climb to 560, up by 45 from last week. That's still down from 606 rigs drilling during the same period last year.
