US rig count near 19-year high

By OGJ editors

HOUSTON, Feb. 18 -- US drilling activity continued to climb, up by 15 units to 1,295 rotary rigs at work, Baker Hughes Inc. reported Feb. 18. That's up from 1,114 during the same period a year ago and the highest weekly rig count for February since 1986 when the count was at 1,308 and falling.

Land operations accounted for most of this week's increase, up by 10 units to 1,160 working. Drilling in inland waters increased by 3 units to 28 rotary rigs working. Offshore drilling increased by 2 to 100 in the Gulf of Mexico and 107 for the US as a whole.

However, Canada's rig count was unchanged at 589 active this week, up from 574 a year ago.