The US drilling rig count edged downward by 1 unit during the week ended Dec. 14, with the total number of rotary rigs reaching 1,799, Baker Hughes Inc. reported. This compares with 2,019 rigs working in the comparable week last year.
Land-based drilling rigs fell 3 units to 1,729, while offshore rigs increased by 1 unit to 49. Rigs drilling in inland waters also rose by 1 to reach 21 units working. Of those rigs drilling offshore, 47 were in the Gulf of Mexico, 1 fewer than a week ago.
Rigs targeting natural gas lost 1 unit, reaching 416. Rigs drilling for oil also fell by 1 unit to 1,381. There were 2 rigs unclassified, 1 more than a week ago.
Rigs drilling directionally were reported at 190, down 1 rig from a week ago and 23 fewer than the comparable week last year. The number of rigs drilling horizontally was up by 2, reaching 1,105. This compares with 1,184 in the comparable week a year ago.
Of the major oil and gas producing states, Louisiana was down 6 units to 111 working. Texas fell by 5 rigs to 848. Oklahoma was down 3 from last week to 185. Arkansas stood at 16 rigs working, down 1 unit. There were four states unchanged from a week ago: Pennsylvania, 71; Wyoming, 49; California, 31; and West Virginia, 26. Three states gained 1 rig each: North Dakota, 174; Colorado, 58; and Ohio, 26. Alaska doubled its rig count, reaching 8 units this week from 4 a week ago. New Mexico, meanwhile, gained 8 rigs to 81.
Canada’s rig count was 418, up 12 units from a week ago. This count includes 289 rigs drilling for oil and 129 units drilling for gas. The total was down 113 units from the comparable week last year.
