Baker Hughes: US rig count down 1 unit to 987

May 17, 2019
The US drilling rig count was down a single unit to 987 the week ended May 17, according to Baker Hughes data. The count is down 59 units from this time a year ago when the count stood at 1,046.

The US drilling rig count was down a single unit to 987 the week ended May 17, according to Baker Hughes data. The count is down 59 units from this time a year ago when the count stood at 1,046.

Two additional units were drilling offshore this week with 22 rigs working. A total of 961 rigs were drilling on land, down 3 units from last week. The number of rigs drilling in inland waters was unchanged at 4 units.

US oil-directed rigs were down 3 units this week to 802 and down 42 units from the 844 rigs drilling for oil this week a year ago. Gas-directed rigs gained 2 units and now total 185. This time a year ago, 200 units were drilling for gas.

Among the major oil and gas-producing states, Ohio saw the largest increase in rigs with a 4-unit gain to reach 20. Wyoming’s rig count increased by 3 units to reach 33 for the week. Louisiana gained 2 units to reach 63, and New Mexico gained a single unit to hit 103 rigs running.

Six states remained unchanged this week: North Dakota, 56; Colorado, 33; California, 15; Utah, 7; Arkansas, 0; and Kansas, 0.

Texas and Pennsylvania each dropped 3 rigs for the week to reach 482 and 40, respectively.

Oklahoma and Alaska each dropped 2 rigs to hit 103 and 7 rigs running, respectively.

With a single unit drop, West Virginia saw 20 rigs working for the week.

Canada’s rig count remained unchanged from a week ago with 63 rigs working. There are 20 fewer rigs working than this week a year ago. Both oil-directed rigs and those targeting gas remained unchanged at 22 and 41 rigs running, respectively.