By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Nov. 1 -- US drilling remained effectively flat with just a minor rebound of 3 rotary rigs to a total 1,672 working in the week ended Oct. 29, following a 1-rig loss the previous week. The latest total is up from 1,069 active rigs in the same period a year ago, said Baker Hughes Inc. reported.
Land operations increased by 2 rigs to 1,632 drilling in the latest week. Inland water activity also gained 2 rigs for a total 18. However, offshore drilling was down by 1 to only 22 units working, all in the Gulf of Mexico. Low offshore activity still is the direct result of government delay despite the lifting of the White House moratorium on drilling in water depths beyond 500 ft.
Of the US rigs still working, the number drilling for natural gas increased by 2 to 967. The number drilling for oil was up 1 to 696. There were 9 rigs unclassified. Horizontal drilling increased by 12 rigs to 919. Directional drilling decreased by 3 rigs to 220.
Texas had the biggest rig count increase among the 12 largest producing states, up by 5 rotary rigs to 716 drilling in the week ended Oct. 29. Alaska was second with an increase of 2 rigs to 5 now drilling. Louisiana and California each gained 1 rig for respective counts of 185 and 36. North Dakota, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia were unchanged at 138, 101, and 24, respectively. Oklahoma, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Arkansas lost 1 rig each, with respective totals of 147, 67, 42, and 35. Colorado was down by 2 rotary rigs with 67 still drilling.
Canada’s rig count escalated by 14 to 433 working in the same week, up from 249 in the comparable period a year ago.
Rendering from Cedar LNG.
US Government Accountability Office.
