Baker Hughes: US rig count hits 500 with 9-rig increase

Aug. 13, 2021
The US drilling rig count increased by 9 units to reach 500 rigs working for the week ended Aug. 13, according to Baker Hughes data. The count is up 256 units from the 244 rigs working this time a year ago.

The US drilling rig count increased by 9 units to reach 500 rigs working for the week ended Aug. 13, according to Baker Hughes data. The count is up 256 units from the 244 rigs working this time a year ago.

The number of rigs drilling on land was up 8 units week-over-week with a total of 484. The number of rigs drilling offshore was unchanged at 14. A single rig increase brought the number of rigs drilling in inland waters to 2.

US oil-directed rigs were up 10 from last week at 397 units. This time a year ago, 172 units were drilling for oil. Rigs targeting gas fell by 1 to 102, 32 more than were drilling for gas at this time a year ago.

Of the major oil and gas-producing states, New Mexico saw the largest increase. A 4-rig increase brought the rig count to 79 for the week. Texas added 3 rigs to its count to hit 232 rigs running for the week.

North Dakota gained 2 rigs over last week to reach 21 for the week. California’s rig count is up 1 for the week to 6.

Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Alaska each dropped a single rig to end the week with 47, 30, and 4 rigs working, respectively.

Six states remained unchanged this week, namely Pennsylvania 19; Colorado 11; Ohio 11; Utah 10; Wyoming, 16; and West Virginia 10.

Canada’s rig count increased by 8 units to 164 rigs drilling for the week. The count is 110 more than the 54 units drilling this week a year ago. At 100 units, Canada’s oil-directed rig count gained 5 rigs from last week. The gas-directed rig count in Canada increased by 3 rigs to 63 rigs running for the week.