The US drilling rig count increased 10 units, reaching 254 rigs working for the week ended Aug. 21, according to Baker Hughes data. The count is down 662 units from the 916 rigs working this time a year ago.
The number of rigs drilling on land increased by 10 week-over-week to a total of 240 units. The number of rigs drilling in inland waters was unchanged at 1 unit for the week. The number of rigs drilling offshore was unchanged at 13.
US oil-directed rigs increased by 11 from last week to reach 183 units. This time a year ago, 754 units were drilling for oil. Rigs targeting gas decreased by a single unit to reach 69 rigs, 93 fewer than were drilling for gas at this time a year ago.
A notable change among the major oil and gas-producing states—with an 8-unit increase, Texas ended the week with 108 working rigs.
West Virginia gained 3 units to reach 8 drilling for the week. New Mexico’s rig count increased by 2 units to hit 47. With a single-unit gain, Louisiana ended the week with 32 rigs running.
Pennsylvania dropped 2 rigs to reach 18 for the week, while North Dakota and Ohio each dropped 1 unit to reach respective rig counts of 10 and 5 for the week.
Seven states remained unchanged this week, namely Oklahoma, 11; Colorado, 5; California, 4; Alaska, 3; Wyoming, 1; Kansas, 0; and Utah, 0.
Canada’s rig count increased by 2 rigs for the week. At 56 rigs, the count is 83 fewer than the 139 units drilling this week a year ago. With 20 rigs drilling, Canada’s oil-directed rigs increased by a single unit for the week. Gas-directed rigs in Canada also increased by a single unit to reach 36.