US rig activity soars as Canada's slows

Drilling activity in the US jumped by 38 rotary rigs to 1,320 working the week ended Mar. 18, Baker Hughes Inc. reported, while the number of rigs working in Canada plummeted by 112 to 329. Total North America rigs working—drilling gas wells primarily—are nevertheless up 70 over last year's 1,579.

March 21, 2005

By OGJ editors

HOUSTON, Mar. 21 -- Drilling activity in the US jumped by 38 rotary rigs to 1,320 working the week ended Mar. 18, Baker Hughes Inc. reported, while the number of rigs working in Canada plummeted by 112 to 329. Total North America rigs working—drilling gas wells primarily—are nevertheless up 70 over last year's 1,579.

Onshore drilling was responsible for most of the US upsurge, with the number of rigs working in Texas increasing to 28.

Offshore drilling increased by 5 rigs with 4 of them in the Gulf of Mexico.