The US drilling rig count increased 4 units to reach 300 rigs working for the week ended Nov. 6, according to Baker Hughes data. The count is down 517 units from the 817 rigs working this time a year ago.
The number of rigs drilling on land was up 4 week-over-week with a total of 286 units. The number of rigs drilling in inland waters was up 1 unit to end the week with 2. The number of rigs drilling offshore decreased by a single unit to 12.
US oil-directed rigs increased by 5 from last week to reach 226 units. This time a year ago, 684 units were drilling for oil. Rigs targeting gas decreased by one unit to reach 71 rigs, 59 fewer than were drilling for gas at this time a year ago.
Of the major oil and gas-producing states, Texas again saw the largest increase. A 6-rig increase put the state’s total number of rigs working at 139 for the week. With a 3-unit increase, New Mexico’s rig count hit 50 for the week.
Eight states remained unchanged this week, Louisiana, 37; Pennsylvania, 18; North Dakota, 11; California, 4; Colorado, 4; Alaska, 3; Utah, 3; and Wyoming, 3.
Oklahoma, West Virginia, and Ohio each dropped a single rig to reach counts of 13, 7, and 5, respectively.
Canada’s rig count remained unchanged for the week. At 86 rigs, the count is 54 fewer than the 140 units drilling this week a year ago. At 37 units, Canada’s oil-directed rig count is down 3 units for the week. The gas-directed rig count in Canada is up 3 units to 49.