North American rig count falls as oil drilling slows in the US and Canada

North American drilling activity declined for the week ended May 9, with 692 rotary rigs working in the US and Canada, Baker Hughes officials reported Friday. The count is down 12 from the previous week. 

Fewer oil-directed rigs drove the decline.

There were 114 rigs working in Canada this week, a 6-rig decline from last week. Of those, 68 were drilling for oil, 6 fewer than a week ago. Rigs drilling for gas totaled 46, unchanged from the previous week.

The US rig count is also down 6 this week at 578, and down 25 units from this time last year. The number of rigs drilling on land was down by 3 units to end the week at 564 rigs working. There were 3 rigs drilling in inland waters, unchanged from last week. Three fewer rigs were drilling offshore, reducing the total number of rigs working to 11.

Five fewer rigs were drilling for oil in the US this week, bringing the weekly total to 474. There were 101 units drilling for gas this week, unchanged from this time last week. One fewer unclassified rig was working this week, dropping the total to 3.

New Mexico dropped 4 rigs to end the week at 96 working units. Louisiana dropped 2 units to end the week with 30 rigs running. The rig count in Wyoming dropped by 2 units to 19.

Texas added 2 rigs to end the week with 273. Utah added a single rig to close out the week with 12 rigs running.