The US drilling rig count dropped 3 units to reach 799 rigs working for the week ended Dec. 6, according to Baker Hughes data. The count is down 276 units from the 1,075 rigs working this time a year ago.
The number of rigs drilling on land fell 3 units week-over-week to a total of 777 rigs running. The number of rigs drilling in inland waters remained unchanged at 0 units. The number of rigs drilling offshore remained unchanged at 22 units.
US oil-directed rigs decreased by 5 from last week to 663 units. A year ago, 877 units were drilling for oil. Gas-directed rigs increased by 2 to 133 rigs, 65 fewer than were drilling for gas a year ago.
Of the major oil and gas-producing states only two showed an increase in rigs week-over-week. North Dakota and Pennsylvania each saw a single-unit gain to reach 50 and 24 rigs running, respectively.
Nine states remained unchanged this week, namely New Mexico, 103; Wyoming, 29; Colorado, 23; California, 15; Ohio, 13; West Virginia, 13; Alaska, 7; Utah, 4; and Kansas, 0.
Canada gained rigs for the week. At 138 rigs, the count is 12 more than the 138 units drilling last week and 48 fewer than the 186 units drilling this week a year ago. A 10-rig gain brought the oil-directed rig count to 87 for the week. Gas-directed rigs in Canada increased by 2 units to reach 51.