Baker Hughes: US drilling rig count up 13 to 1,791

Aug. 16, 2013
The US drilling rig count reached a total of 1,791 rotary rigs working during the week ended Aug. 16, an increase of 13 units from a week ago, Baker Hughes Inc. reported.

The US drilling rig count reached a total of 1,791 rotary rigs working during the week ended Aug. 16, an increase of 13 units from a week ago, Baker Hughes Inc. reported.

Land-based drilling gained 9 units this week to 1,706 rigs working. There were 62 rigs working offshore, up 5 rigs from a week ago. Of these, 59 were drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, an increase of 4 units from a week ago. The number of rigs drilling in inland waters fell 1 unit to 23.

Rigs drilling for oil in the US rose 12 units to reach 1,397 rigs working. Those targeting gas also gained, rising 2 units to 388 rigs. Compared with the same week last year, gas rigs were down 96 units, while those drilling for oil were down 28. Six rigs were considered unclassified, down 1 unit from a week ago.

The number of rigs drilling horizontally increased by 12 units to 1,077, while the number of rigs drilling directionally rose by 3 units to 269.

Canada’s rig count remained 358 during the week ended Aug. 16, unchanged from a week ago. The 1-unit rise in rigs drilling for oil cancelled out the 1-unit loss in rigs targeting gas. The total count was up 32 units from a year ago.

Major states, basins

Of the major oil and gas producing states, Louisiana gained 5 units to 113 rigs working. California, meanwhile, made a 4-rig gain to reach 42. New Mexico, at 76 this week, and Alaska, at 13, were each up 2 units. Six states were up 1 rig each this week: North Dakota, 172; Oklahoma, 169; Wyoming, 52; Ohio, 36; Utah, 31; and Kansas, 25. Three states—Colorado (71), Pennsylvania (51), and Arkansas (13)—were unchanged from a week ago. West Virginia, at 37 rigs working, dropped 1 unit; Texas lost 3 rigs to reach 846.

Notable changes this week in major US basins included a 3-rig gain in Granite Wash with a total of 74 rigs working. The Eagle Ford dropped 7 rigs to 229 units working.