North America rig numbers fall

Total drilling activity in North America dropped the week ended Aug. 4, with 847 rotary rigs working, reported Baker Hughes, Houston. That represents 120 fewer rigs working this week than at the same time last year and 10 fewer than last week.

In the US, a total of 659 rigs were working, 5 fewer than last week, and 105 fewer than this time last year. One fewer rig was working in the Gulf of Mexico, leaving 18 rigs for the week. US onshore activity decreased by 5 rigs to 635 units working. Texas lost 8 rigs to reach 314 rigs working for the week. Louisiana and Pennsylvania both dropped a single rig this week, leaving respective counts of 50 and 21. New Mexico and Wyoming both added two rigs to reach 113 and 21 rigs working for the week, respectively.

Canada had 188 rigs working this week, down 5 from the previous week and down 15 from the year-ago period. Canada dropped 3 oil-directed rigs and 2 gas-directed rigs this week to land at counts of 118 and 70, respectively.