The US drilling rig count dropped 21 units to reach 318 rigs working for the week ended May 22, according to Baker Hughes data. The count is down 665 units from the 983 rigs working this time a year ago.
The number of rigs drilling on land fell 21 units week-over-week to a total of 306 rigs running. The number of rigs drilling in inland waters remain unchanged at 0 units. The number of rigs drilling offshore remain unchanged at 12 units.
US oil-directed rigs decreased by 21 from last week to 237 units. A year ago, 797 units were drilling for oil. Gas-directed rigs remain unchanged at 79 rigs, 107 fewer than were drilling for gas a year ago.
West Virginia is the only state among the major oil and gas-producing states to see an increase in rigs week-over-week. With one additional rig, 8 rigs are drilling in the state.
Texas saw the largest drop in rigs. With 138 rigs running, the count is 12 fewer than last week. New Mexico dropped 3 rigs for the week to reach 63 rigs working. North Dakota, Colorado, and Wyoming each dropped 2 rigs for the week to reach 14, 6, and 2, respectively. A single rig was dropped in Pennsylvania where 22 rigs remain.
Six states remained unchanged this week, namely Louisiana, 35; Oklahoma, 12; Ohio, 8; California, 5; Alaska, 3; and Utah, 0.
Canada’s rig count fell by 2 units for the week. At 21 rigs, the count is 57 fewer than the 78 units drilling this week a year ago. A single-rig gain brought the oil-directed rig count to 8 for the week. Gas-directed rigs in Canada decreased by 3 units to reach 13.
