Baker Hughes: US rig count falls 21 units to 830

Oct. 25, 2019
The US drilling rig count dropped sharply the week ended Oct. 25.

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.