Baker Hughes: US rig count down 3 units during holiday week

Nov. 21, 2018
The US drilling rig count is down 3 units to 1,079 rigs working for the shortened holiday week ended Nov. 21, according to Baker Hughes data. However, the count is up 156 units from the 923 rigs working this time a year ago.

The US drilling rig count is down 3 units to 1,079 rigs working for the shortened holiday week ended Nov. 21, according to Baker Hughes data. However, the count is up 156 units from the 923 rigs working this time a year ago.

Land-based drilling was down 6 units this week to 1,052 rigs working vs. last week. Offshore units gained 3 units to reach 25 rigs working, while those rigs drilling in inland waters were unchanged this week to 2 rigs working for the week.

US oil-directed rigs were down 3 units from last week to 885 units working, and up from the 747 rigs drilling for oil this week a year ago. Gas-directed rigs were unchanged at 194, and up from the 176 units drilling for gas a year ago.

Among the major oil and gas-producing states, Texas, at 532 rigs, and North Dakota, at 52 rigs, were down 3 units each. Oklahoma and Wyoming, at 144 and 28, respectively, were down 2 units each. Alaska and Utah each lost 1 unit to reach respective counts of 5 and 4.

New Mexico was up 3 units to reach 108 rigs working and Louisiana, at 69, was up 4 units.

All other states were unchanged from last week.

Canada gained 7 rigs for the week. With 204 rigs running, the count is less than the 215 units drilling this week a year ago. Oil-directed rigs rose 6 units bringing the count to 124 rigs for the week. Rigs targeting gas in Canada gained 1 unit to 80 rigs working.