The US drilling rig count increased by 7 units to reach 491 rigs working for the week ended July 23, according to Baker Hughes data. The count is up 240 units from the 251 rigs working this time a year ago.
The number of rigs drilling on land was up 7 units week-over-week with a total of 473. The number of rigs drilling offshore was unchanged at 17.
US oil-directed rigs were up 7 rigs from last week at 387 units. This time a year ago, 181 units were drilling for oil. Rigs targeting gas were unchanged at 104, 36 more 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 6-rig increase brought the rig count to 228 for the week.
Utah added 2 rigs to reach 12 rigs working. Oklahoma increased its rig count by 1 to reach 30.
Louisiana dropped 2 rigs to end the week with 52 rigs running.
Nine states remained unchanged this week, namely New Mexico, 75; North Dakota, 18; Pennsylvania 18; Wyoming 13; Colorado 12; Ohio 10; West Virginia 10; California, 6; and Alaska, 5.
Canada’s rig count decreased by a single unit to 149 rigs drilling for the week. The count is 107 more than the 42 units drilling this week a year ago. At 93 units, Canada’s oil-directed rig count is one fewer than last week. The gas-directed rig count in Canada is unchanged at 55.