US drilling activity decreased by 2 units to 616 rotary rigs working this week, down from 779 during the same period a year ago, officials at Baker Hughes Inc. reported Friday.
Offshore operations accounted for the loss, down 2 rigs in the Gulf of Mexico (to 17) and 1 in inland waters. Land operations added 1, to reach 595.
Canada's rig count rose 3 to 199 units, down 1 from the 200 rigs working this time last year.
Among US rigs, those drilling for oil decreased by 2 to 494, while those drilling for gas were unchanged at 118. There were 4 rigs unclassified, unchanged from the prior week. Directional drilling decreased by 1 to 53 rigs this week; horizontal drilling increased by 2 to 551 rigs.
Texas saw its rig count decline by 2 rigs, ending the week with a rig count of 302. Pennsylvania dropped 1 rig to end the week with 19 working. Louisiana lost 3 rigs to slip to 38.
