US rig activity continues to climb

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, May 25 -- US drilling activity continued to climb, up by 16 units to 1,760 rotary rigs working this week, compared with 1,649 in the same period a year ago, Baker Hughes Inc. reported.

Land activity accounted for the increase, with 1,656 rigs drilling, up by 16 from the previous week. US offshore activity increased by 5 rigs to 79 in the Gulf of Mexico and 80 in US waters as a whole. But that was offset by the loss of 5 rigs to 24 in inland waters.

Oklahoma had the biggest increase among major producing states, up 12 rigs to 194. Texas's rig count increased by 5 to 835, while Wyoming was up by 4 to 75. New Mexico and Alaska gained 1 rig each to 80 and 8, respectively. California was unchanged with 32 rotary rigs working. Colorado's rig count fell by 9 to 101, while Louisiana was down 1 to 176.

Canada's rig count dipped by 7 to 114 rotary rigs, compared with 325 rotary rigs working at this time last year.