The US drilling rig count fell 5 units, reaching 851 rigs working for the week ended Oct. 18, according to Baker Hughes Co. data. The count is down 216 units from the 1,067 rigs working this time a year ago.
The number of rigs drilling on land dropped 4 units week-over-week to a total of 827 units. With a single-unit gain, there are 2 rigs drilling in inland waters. There are 2 fewer rigs drilling offshore for a total of 22 for the week.
US oil-directed rigs increased by a single unit from last week to reach 713 units. This time a year ago, 873 units were drilling for oil. Rigs targeting gas fell by 6 to 137 units, which is 57 fewer than were drilling for gas at this time a year ago.
Among the major oil and gas-producing states, Pennsylvania dropped the largest number of rigs. At 28 rigs running, the count is 4 fewer than the previous week.
Oklahoma and Louisiana each dropped 2 rigs to reach a respective 60 and 55 rigs running.
Rig counts in New Mexico and West Virginia fell by a single rig each to hit 111 and 16 rigs running, respectively.
Six states remained unchanged this week, namely North Dakota, 54; Colorado, 24; California, 14; Alaska, 8; Utah, 4; and Kansas, 0.
Texas’s rig count increased by 3 units to 423. Wyoming and Ohio each gained a rig this week to reach a respective 34 and 11 rigs running.
Canada’s rig count decreased by 3 units for the week. At 143 rigs, the count is 48 fewer than the 191 units drilling this week a year ago. With 98 rigs drilling, Canada’s oil-directed rigs fell by 4 units this week. Gas-directed rigs in Canada increased by a single unit to reach 45.