US oil and gas drilling rig activity fell this week with the loss of 10 rigs, bringing the total working rigs to 1,958. This week’s count, however, is up by 304 rigs from the comparable period a year ago, Baker Hughes Inc. reported.
Land rigs were down by 10 to 1,907 working. Offshore, the number of rigs edged down by 1 rig to 32 units. Inland waters activity gained 1 rig to 19.
Of the US rigs working, 1,057 were drilling for oil, down 7 compared with the previous week. Rigs drilling for natural gas for the week ended Sept. 9 declined by 3 rigs from the previous week to 892.
There were 9 rotary rigs unclassified, which was the same number as last week.
Directional drilling activity decreased by 3 units to 235. Horizontal drilling lost 2 to 1,134 units.
Among the top-producing US states, Texas had the biggest loss of rigs, down 14 units to 884 working. Louisiana had 150 rigs working, a decline of 2 units. New Mexico had 85 rigs working, a decline of 1 unit. Wyoming lost 1 rig to 50 working.
Three states had unchanged rig counts: Pennsylvania, 113; Arkansas, 32; and California, 48.
Alaska gained 1 rig to 8 units working, and West Virginia also gained 1 rig to 21 units working.
Colorado gained 2 rigs to 77 units working. North Dakota reached 182 rigs working, up 2.
Canada’s count decreased by 2 to 515 rotary rigs working, which was up 132 units the same period last year.
