US drilling rises again; up 17 rigs

US drilling activity continued to increase, adding 17 more rotary rigs for a total of 1,731 this week, up from 1,532 during the same period in 2006, said Baker Hughes Inc.

Feb. 9, 2007

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Feb. 9 -- US drilling activity continued to increase, adding 17 more rotary rigs for a total of 1,731 this week, up from 1,532 during the same period in 2006, said Baker Hughes Inc.

Land drilling increased by 8 rigs to 1,622, while inland waters activity was up by 7 units to 26. Offshore drilling increased by 2 rigs to 80 in the Gulf of Mexico and 83 in US waters as a whole.

The biggest growth was in Texas, up by 19 rigs to 822 working this week. Oklahoma's rig count increased by 11 to 183, while Louisiana was up 5 to 188. New Mexico added 2 rigs for a total of 85 drilling.

Those gains were offset by losses, with Wyoming down 6 rotary rigs to 71 working. Colorado and Alaska each lost 2 rigs for respective totals of 93 and 9. California was down by 1 rig to 32 drilling.

Canada's weekly rig count dropped 19 rigs, with 641 still drilling. That compares with 714 rotary rigs working at this time last year.