By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, July 21 -- US drilling activity continued to rise, up by 6 rotary rigs to 1,928 working the week ended July 18, compared with 1,790 during the same period in 2007, said Baker Hughes Inc.
Most of the increase was in inland waters, up 3 rigs to 26. There were 2 more rigs working offshore, for a total of 69 in the Gulf of Mexico, the only US waters being drilled. Land activity inched up by only 1 rig to 1,833 working.
Of those rigs working, 385 were drilling for oil, 15 more than the prior week. Those drilling for gas declined by 10 to 1,534 units. There were 9 rigs unclassified. Directional drilling decreased by 2 units to 384. Horizontal drilling increased by 8 to 568.
Among the major producing states, Texas' rig count jumped by 14 to 922 working. Oklahoma was up by 5 to 205. California and Alaska added 1 rig each for respective totals of 43 and 7. Louisiana's rig count fell by 9 to 173. Colorado was down 3 to 106. North Dakota and Arkansas lost 2 rigs each to 67 and 58, respectively. New Mexico was down by 1 to 83.
Canada's rig count dipped by 4 to 410 units drilling, up from 377 in this period last year.
