By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Nov. 4 -- US drilling activity increased by 16 units to 1,496 rotary rigs working this week, tying a nearly 20-year record, Baker Hughes Inc. reported Nov. 4. That's up from 1,268 rigs working a year ago.
The last time 1,496 rotary rigs were working in the US was during the middle of February in 1986, when the rig count had dropped from 1,594 the previous week, headed to a low of 663 later that year. The lowest rig count this year was 1,339 registered in the first week.
Land operations accounted for most of this week's gain, up by 13 rigs to 1,385 making hole. There were 23 rigs working inland waters, 2 more than the previous week. Offshore drilling increased by 1 rig to 83 in the Gulf of Mexico and 88 for US federal waters as a whole.
Texas was up by 11 rigs to 676 working, while Louisiana gained 5 rigs to 181. Wyoming's rig count increased by 3 rigs to 91. However, New Mexico was down by 4 rigs to 88, while Oklahoma and Alaska lost 1 rig each to 152 and 7, respectively.
Canada's rig count dipped by 3 rotary rigs to 582 this week, up from 432 rigs a year ago.
