The US drilling rig count reached 1,046 units working for the week ended July 20, down 8 rigs from a week ago, according to Baker Hughes data. The count is up 96 units from this time a year ago when the count stood at 950.
Offshore units were down 2 from last week with 17 rigs working. A total of 1,024 rigs were drilling on land, down 6 units from last week. The number of rigs drilling in inland waters remained unchanged at 5 units working.
US oil-directed rigs were down 5 units to 858 and up from the 764 rigs drilling for oil this week a year ago. Gas-directed rigs were down 2 units to 187. This time a year ago, 186 units were drilling for gas.
Among the major oil and gas-producing states, New Mexico saw the largest gain with an increase of 4 units to a total of 103 rigs working. Wyoming and Ohio gained 1 unit each to reach 28 and 23, respectively.
Five states were unchanged this week, namely Pennsylvania, 37; Colorado, 32; California, 15; Utah, 6; and Arkansas, 1.
The rig count in Texas fell 5 units to 523. Oklahoma dropped 3 rigs to 138 units running. Louisiana dropped 2 rigs to 56. Three states dropped 1 unit, namely North Dakota, 56; West Virginia, 16; and Alaska, 5.
Canada’s rig count jumped again with a 14-unit gain to 211. This week a year ago, 206 rigs were drilling. Oil-directed rigs increased 3 units this week to 142, while those targeting gas gained 11 units to 69.
