The US drilling rig count increased by 5 units to reach 533 rigs working for the week ended Oct. 8, according to Baker Hughes data. The count is up 264 units from the 269 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 520. The number of rigs drilling offshore was down 2 to 11. The number of rigs drilling in inland waters was unchanged at 2.
US oil-directed rigs were up 5 from last week at 433 units. This time a year ago, 193 units were drilling for oil. Rigs targeting gas were unchanged at 99, 26 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 with an additional 4 rigs running to reach 247. West Virginia gained 2 rigs to reach 10 rigs working. Oklahoma and California each added a single rig to reach 41 and 7 rigs running, respectively.
Louisiana, Pennsylvania, and Ohio each dropped a single rig to reach respective counts of 45, 17, and 11.
Six states remained unchanged this week, namely New Mexico, 86; North Dakota, 22; Wyoming, 18; Colorado 11; Utah, 10; and Alaska, 5.
Canada’s rig count increased by 2 units to 167 rigs drilling for the week. The count is 87 more than the 80 units drilling this week a year ago. At 95 units, Canada’s oil-directed rig count decreased by 2 rigs from last week. The gas-directed rig count in Canada increased by 4 units to 72 running for the week.