The US drilling rig count gained another 5 units to reach 1,013 during the week ended Apr. 20, data from Baker Hughes indicate. The report shows an overall increase of 156 units from year-ago levels.
Offshore units were up 2 to 18 units working in the Gulf of Mexico. A total of 991 rigs were drilling on land, up 3 units from last week (OGJ Online, Apr. 13, 2018). The number of rigs drilling in inland waters remained at 4 units.
Rigs targeting oil were up 5 units to 820, up 132 from the 688 rigs drilling for oil this week a year ago. Gas-targeted rigs remained unchanged at 192 units. This time a year ago, 167 units were drilling for gas.
Texas saw the largest increase with an 8-unit jump to 509 rigs running. With an increase of 1 unit each, New Mexico and Louisiana were the only other major oil and gas-producing states to see an increase, reaching 90 and 58 rigs, respectively.
North Dakota and Colorado both dropped 2 units to 52 and 29, respectively. Three states dropped one rig each, namely Oklahoma, 127; Pennsylvania, 40; and Ohio, 22.
Seven states remained unchanged. Wyoming held at 29, West Virginia at 16, California at 14, Utah at 8, Alaska at 8, and Kansas at 1, and Arkansas at 1.
Canada lost 9 rigs to 93 rigs working from a week ago. There are 6 fewer rigs working than this week a year ago. Oil-directed rigs decreased 3 units this week to 38, while those targeting gas dropped 6 units to 55.
