US drilling activity increased by 3 units to 625 rotary rigs working this week, down from 784 the same period a year ago, officials at Baker Hughes Inc. reported Friday.
Oil operations accounted for the gain, up 5 rigs (to 505). Gas-directed rigs fell 1, to 116, with unclassified rigs lost one to drop to 4.
Canada's rig count lost 5, dropping to 192 units, down 3 from the 195 rigs working this time last year.
Directional drilling decreased by 1 to 54 rigs this week; horizontal drilling increased by 5 to 559 rigs.
Texas’s rig count rose 3 during the week to reach 306. Pennsylvania gained 1, moving to 21. Cana Woodford and Permian basins each added 3 rigs.