The US drilling rig count edged dipped by 25 units during the week ended Dec. 21, with the total number of rotary rigs reaching 1,774, Baker Hughes Inc. reported. This compares with 2,008 rigs working in the comparable week last year.
Land-based drilling rigs fell by 26 units to 1,703, while offshore rigs added 2 units to 51. Rigs drilling in inland waters also dropped by 1 to reach 20 units working. Of those rigs drilling offshore, 48 were in the Gulf of Mexico, 1 more than a week ago.
Rigs targeting natural gas gained 13 units, reaching 429. Rigs drilling for oil fell by 41 units to 1,340. There were 5 rigs unclassified, 3 more than a week ago.
Rigs drilling directionally were reported at 182, down 8 rigs from a week ago and 31 fewer than the comparable week last year. The number of rigs drilling horizontally was unchanged at 1,105. This compares with 1,172 in the comparable week a year ago.
Of the major oil and gas producing states, Texas was down 18 rigs to 830 while Louisiana was down 6 units to 105 working. Oklahoma was down 2 from last week to 183.
Four state each lost 1 rigs: Arkansas, 15; Colorado, 57; Pennsylvania, 70; and West Virginia, 25.
There were four states unchanged from a week ago: Alaska, 8; New Mexico, 81; North Dakota, 174, and Wyoming, 49. California gained 1 rig to 32.
Canada’s rig count was 384, down 34 units from a week ago. This count includes 261 rigs drilling for oil and 123 units drilling for gas. The total was down 22 units from the comparable week last year.
