By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Aug. 21 -- US drilling activity continued to increase, up 17 units to 985 rotary rigs working this week, compared with 1,998 during the same period a year ago, said Baker Hughes Inc.
Land operations increased by 18 rigs to 947 drilling. Inland water activity declined by 1 rig to 7. Offshore drilling dipped by 1 rig to 29 in the Gulf of Mexico, but the overall count in US waters was unchanged at 31.
There were 695 rotary rigs drilling for natural gas this week, 7 more than the previous week. Oil drilling increased by 8 rigs to 280 active. There were 10 rigs unclassified. Directional drilling decreased by 3 to 171 units. Horizontal drilling gained 7 rigs to 428.
The Texas rig count jumped by 17 to 372, more than making up the previous week’s loss. Oklahoma regained 4 rigs to 80. California increased by 3 rigs to 23. New Mexico was up 1 to 43, and Colorado was unchanged at 44. Wyoming’s rig count dropped 2 to 33. Louisiana, Arkansas, North Dakota, and Alaska lost 1 rig each for respective counts of 135, 44, 43 and 8.
Among other states of interest, Pennsylvania was up by 2 rigs to 52. West Virginia and Utah were unchanged at 21 and 17, respectively.
Canada’s weekly rig count declined by 6 to 164 active units, compared with 457 rotary rigs working in the same week last year.