The US drilling rig count fell 6 units, all of which were land-based units, to settle at 1,751 rigs working overall during the week ended Jan. 3, Baker Hughes Inc. reported.
The land rig total is now at 1,750 while the number of rigs drilling offshore and in inland waters remain unchanged from a week ago at 61 and 20 units, respectively.
Oil rigs lost 4 units to 1,378 and gas rigs dropped 2 units to 372. Rigs considered unclassified were unchanged at a single unit.
Both horizontal drilling and directional drilling rigs gained 2 units, setting at respective totals of 1,148 and 377.
Meanwhile in Canada, the oil rig count shot up 21 units to 152, overcoming a 2-unit loss in gas rigs to 130, giving the country 282 total units. Canada has 24 more rigs compared with this week a year ago.
Major states, basins
The final stretch of the holiday season precluded significant changes in the major oil- and gas-producing states, as just three states reported gains. Alaska added 2 units to reach 11 total. North Dakota and New Mexico each claimed a unit to reach respective totals of 174 and 79. Unchanged from a week ago were Louisiana at 112, Pennsylvania at 56, Wyoming at 53, Ohio at 35, West Virginia at 32, Utah at 23, and Arkansas at 11. California was down a unit to 34. Kansas lost 3 units to 29. The steepest declines came in Texas and Oklahoma, where 3-unit subtractions brought their totals to 832 and 169, respectively.
Light activity in the major US basins reflected that of the major states. The Williston and Haynesville areas provided the only noteworthy gains, each tallying 2 units to respective totals of 185 and 43. The Mississippian was down 4 units to 75.
