US drilling dips again

By OGJ editors

HOUSTON, Oct. 19 -- After rebounding last week for the first time in 6 weeks, the US rig count slipped again the week ended Oct. 19, dropping 3 units to 1,764 rotary rigs drilling, which is up from 1,739 in the same period last year, Baker Hughes Inc. reported.

All of the loss was in land drilling, down 8 units to 1,687 working. Offshore drilling increased by 4 rotary rigs to 49 in the Gulf of Mexico and 50 in US waters overall. Inland water activity rose by 1 rig to 27.

Oklahoma registered the largest loss among major producing states, down 9 rigs to 191 drilling. Louisiana lost 2 to 144, and Wyoming declined by 1 to 69. However, New Mexico's rig count jumped by 4 to 70. Texas was up 3 to 850. Alaska also increased by 3, to 8 rigs. Colorado and California each gained 1 rig to 112 and 42, respectively.

Canada's weekly rig count fell by 12 to 331, down from 455 at the same time in 2006.