The US drilling rig count decreased by 1 unit to reach 542 rigs working for the week ended Oct. 22, according to Baker Hughes data. The count is up 255 units from the 287 rigs working this time a year ago.
The number of rigs drilling on land was down 2 units week-over-week with a total of 527. The number of rigs drilling offshore was up 1 to 13. The number of rigs drilling in inland waters was unchanged at 2.
US oil-directed rigs were down 2 from last week at 443 units. This time a year ago, 211 units were drilling for oil. Rigs targeting gas were up 1 to 99, 26 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 with an additional 2 rigs running to reach 87. Louisiana and California each gained 1 rig to reach 48 and 10 rig working, respectively.
Wyoming dropped 3 rigs to reach 15 rigs running for the week. Texas and Utah each dropped a rig to end the week with respective counts of 249 and 9 rigs working.
Seven states remained unchanged this week, namely Oklahoma, 43; North Dakota, 22; Pennsylvania, 17; Colorado 11; West Virginia, 11; Ohio, 10; and Alaska, 6
Canada’s rig count decreased by 4 units to 164 rigs drilling for the week. The count is 81 more than the 83 units drilling this week a year ago. At 93 units, Canada’s oil-directed rig count decreased by 5 rigs from last week. The gas-directed rig count in Canada increased by 1 unit to 71 rigs running for the week.
