The US drilling rig count increased 5 units to reach 402 rigs working for the week ended Feb. 26, according to Baker Hughes data. The count is down 388 units from the 790 rigs working this time a year ago.
The number of rigs drilling on land was up 5 units week-over-week with a total of 385. The number of rigs drilling in inland waters was down 1 unit to leave no rigs drilling. The number of rigs drilling offshore increased by 1 unit to reach 17.
US oil-directed rigs increased by 4 from last week to reach 309 units. This time a year ago, 678 units were drilling for oil. Rigs targeting gas increased by 1 to 92 rigs, 18 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 3-rig increase brought the rig count to 197 for the week. Pennsylvania added 2 rigs to reach 20 for the week, while New Mexico added a single rig to reach 62.
West Virginia’s rig count decreased by 1 to reach 11 rigs drilling for the week.
Nine states remained unchanged this week, namely Louisiana, 47; Oklahoma, 17; North Dakota, 14; Colorado, 8; California, 7; Ohio, 7; Wyoming, 5; Alaska, 3; and Utah, 3.
Canada’s rig count decreased 9 units to 163 rigs drilling for the week. The count is 77 fewer than the 240 units drilling this week a year ago. At 92 units, Canada’s oil-directed rig count is down 8 units for the week. The gas-directed rig count in Canada was down 1 unit to 71.
