US crude oil and natural gas drilling rig activity this week jumped another 11 units to reach a total of 2,023 rigs working. This week’s count is up by 353 units from the comparable period a year ago, Baker Hughes Inc. reported.
Much of this gain was again in land rigs, which rose by 10 units to 1,971 rigs drilling. The total of offshore rigs was up 1 unit to 35 working. Inland water rigs remained unchanged from a week ago at 17 units.
Of the US rigs working, 1,080 were drilling for oil, up 10 rigs compared with a week ago. Rigs drilling for natural gas for the week ended Oct. 14 gained 1 unit, reaching 936 rigs.
There were 7 rotary rigs unclassified, which was unchanged from last week.
Directional drilling activity gained 4 units to 250. Horizontal drilling gained as well, up 5 rigs to 1,153.
Among the top-producing US states, Louisiana was up 6 units to 158 rigs working. Pennsylvania reached 114, up 4 units. Texas and New Mexico each gained 3 rigs to respective counts of 915 and 83. Gaining one rig each were: Wyoming, 58; California, 50; Arkansas, 37; and Alaska, 9. West Virginia, at 27, was down 1 rig for the week. North Dakota and Colorado were each off 2 rigs, at 190 and 75, respectively. Oklahoma reached 197 rigs, down 5.
Canada’s rig count lost 10 units to 512 rigs working, which was up 89 units from the same period last year.
