US drilling activity increased slightly for the week ended Apr. 22, Baker Hughes Inc. reported. With a 2-rig increase 695 rigs were working in the US, an increase of 257 from this time a year ago.
Rigs drilling on land were up 2 units to 682 in operation. A 1-rig drop left no rigs working in inland waters this week, while a 1-rig bump increased offshore rigs to 13.
Gas drilling increased by a single rig to 144. Drilling for oil also increased by one unit, to 549. Directional drilling dipped a single unit to 31 units working. Horizontal drilling increased by 3 rigs to 639.
North Dakota’s rig count increased by 2 to 35 rigs running for the week. Alaska gained a single unit to hit 9 for the week. Wyoming dropped a single rig to 15 units working for the week.
Canada’s weekly rig count decreased by 2 to 101, compared with 55 rigs working a year ago.