Canada's drilling activity increased as 141 rotary rigs were working this week, 51 more than last week and 24 more than were working for this period a year ago, according to Baker Hughes.
Of the 141 rigs, 39 more were drilling for oil this week than last for a total of 78 and an additional 12 were drilling for gas to reach a total of 63.
US drilling activity increased slightly with 588 rotary rigs working this week, up 2 from the previous week but up 228 from a year ago.
Land operations in the US were unchanged at 570 rigs running. Offshore operations were up by 1 rig to 16—all in the Gulf of Mexico. Drilling activity in inland waters increased by 1 rig to 2.
Of the largest oil and gas producing states, Louisiana saw the largest increase with a 3-rig gain to reach 52 units working.
New Mexico and Wyoming each added 1 rig to reach counts of 95 and 16, respectively.
Texas dropped 3 rigs to hit 274 for the week.
Nine states remained unchanged this week, namely Oklahoma, 49; North Dakota, 27; Pennsylvania, 19; Colorado, 12; Ohio, 11; West Virginia, 10; Utah, 9; California, 8; and Alaska, 5.
