By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Nov. 6 -- US drilling activity increased another 9 units this week with 1,078 rotary rigs working the week ended Nov. 6. This compares with 1,992 rigs drilling in the same period last year, Baker Hughes Inc. reported.
Land operations made the largest gain, up 8 rigs to 1,029 active units. Drilling in inland waters was unchanged at 13 units. Offshore drilling was up 1 rig with 36 units working in US waters, including 35 in the Gulf of Mexico.
Of the rigs still working, 332 were drilling for oil, 2 more than the previous week. There were 734 rigs drilling for natural gas, a 6-unit increase. There were 12 rigs unclassified. Directional drilling was up 6 units to 186 and horizontal drilling was up 10 units to 507 rigs.
Among the major producing states, Louisiana’s rig count increase by 5 units to 169. New Mexico was up 3 rigs to 51 working.Arkansas and California were up 2 rigs each, to respective counts of 40 and 24. Colorado and Oklahoma were up 1 rig each to 40 and 78, respectively. Alaska and Wyoming were unchanged at 6 and 39 units. North Dakota was down 1 rig to 54 working. Texas had the largest weekly loss, down 4 units to 407 still active.
In other states of interest, Pennsylvania and West Virginia were unchanged at respective counts of 59 and 22 rigs drilling. Utah was down 1 rig to 18.
The Canadian rig count was down 14 units to 233 rigs working. This was down from 445 units drilling a year ago.