North American rig count down as Canada drop offsets US gain
A total 836 rigs were working in North America this week, according to Baker Hughes data.
Drilling in Canada fell during the week ended Mar. 15, down 18 rigs to 207 rotary rigs still working. The drop offset the 7-rig gain in the US that brought the country to a total of 629 rigs running for the week.
The US count is down 125 from the same time last year, while Canada’s year-over-year count is unchanged at 207.
In the US, land operations were up by 4 rigs to 605. The offshore rig count increased by 3 to 24, while inland water operations remained unchanged at 0 rigs working.
Of the rotary rigs working in the US, there were 510 drilling for oil this week, up 6 from the previous week. Those drilling for natural gas were up by a single unit to 116. There were 3 rigs unclassified, unchanged from last week.
Among the major producing states, Louisiana saw the largest increase in rigs. With 48 rigs working, the count is up 5 from last week. Texas gained 3 rigs to reach 294 working this week. New Mexico and West Virginia each added a rig to reach respective counts of 107 and 9.
Pennsylvania’s rig count fell by 2 to leave 22 units running for the week. Oklahoma dropped a single rig, leaving 44 working.