The US drilling rig count dropped sharply the week ended Oct. 25. With a 21-rig decline, 830 rigs were left working for the week, according to Baker Hughes Co. data. The count is down 238 units from the 1,068 rigs working this time a year ago.
The number of rigs drilling on land dropped 20 units week-over-week to a total of 807 units. Rigs drilling in inland water remained unchanged at 2. There is 1 fewer rig drilling offshore for a total of 21 for the week.
US oil-directed rigs decreased by 17 units from last week to reach 696 units. This time a year ago, 875 units were drilling for oil. Rigs targeting gas fell by 4 to 133 units, which is 60 fewer than were drilling for gas at this time a year ago.
Among the major oil and gas-producing states, Oklahoma dropped the largest number of rigs. At 54 rigs running, the count is 6 fewer than the previous week. Texas dropped 5 rigs to reach 418 units working.
North Dakota and Wyoming each dropped 2 rigs to reach a respective 52 and 32 rigs running.
Five states were running one fewer rig this week, namely New Mexico, 110; Louisiana, 54; Pennsylvania, 27; West Virginia, 15; and Utah, 3.
Four states— California, 14; Ohio, 11; Alaska, 8; and Kansas, 0—remained unchanged this week.
Colorado, with its single-rig addition, ended the week with 25 rigs running and was the only major oil and gas-producing state to see an increase.
Canada’s rig count increased by 4 units for the week. At 147 rigs, the count is 53 fewer than the 200 units drilling this week a year ago. With 102 rigs drilling, Canada’s oil-directed rigs increased by 4 units this week. Gas-directed rigs in Canada remained unchanged at 45.