The US drilling rig count increased 3 units to reach 351 rigs working for the week ended Dec. 31, according to Baker Hughes data. The count is down 445 units from the 796 rigs working this time a year ago.
The count was issued 2 days early due to the New Year’s holiday.
The number of rigs drilling on land was up 3 units week-over-week with a total of 332. The number of rigs drilling in inland waters remained unchanged at 2. The number of rigs drilling offshore was unchanged at 17.
US oil-directed rigs increased by 3 from last week to reach 267 units. This time a year ago, 670 units were drilling for oil. Rigs targeting gas were unchanged at 83, 40 fewer than were drilling for gas at this time a year ago.
Of the major oil and gas-producing states, Texas saw the largest increase. A 2-rig increase brought the rig count to 161 for the week. Oklahoma, the only other state to see an increase, was up a single rig to 17.
Eleven states remained unchanged this week, Louisiana, 43; Pennsylvania, 19; North Dakota, 11; West Virginia, 8; Colorado, 6; California, 6; Ohio, 5; Alaska, 2; Wyoming 4; and Utah, 3.
Canada’s rig count fell 23 units to 59 rigs drilling for the week. The count is 26 fewer than the 85 units drilling this week a year ago. At 18 units, Canada’s oil-directed rig count is down 13 units for the week. The gas-directed rig count in Canada is down 10 units to 41.