By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Oct. 4 -- US drilling activity continued to decline, down by 16 rotary rigs to 1,979 working this week, vs. 1,755 during the same period a year ago, said Baker Hughes Inc.
All of the decline was on land, down 25 units with 1,887 still working. That was partially offset by an increase of 6 rigs to 20 drilling inland waters. Offshore drilling showed a net increase of 3 to 72 rotary rigs in federal waters, including a rise of 4 to 69 in the Gulf of Mexico.
There were 1,544 rotary rigs drilling for natural gas this week, down by 15. Oil drilling lost 1 to 422. There were 13 rigs unclassified. Directional drilling declined by 2 to 380 units. Horizontal drilling was down 4 to 632.
Texas saw the biggest decline among the largest oil-producing states, down by 18 units to 932. Oklahoma, Colorado, and Arkansas lost 3 rigs each, down respectively to 199, 106, and 56 units. Wyoming, California, and Alaska were down 2 each to 78, 45, and 9 respectively. North Dakota was unchanged at 75 rigs. New Mexico increased by 3 rigs to 94 drilling. Louisiana's rig count jumped by 12 to 188 drilling.
Canada's weekly rig count fell by 34 rigs to 431 units vs. 332 in the same week last year.
