The US drilling rig count fell 5 units reaching 817 rigs working for the week ended Nov. 8, according to Baker Hughes Co. data. The count is down 264 units from the 1,081 rigs working this time a year ago.
The number of rigs drilling on land dropped 6 units week-over-week to a total of 793 units. The number of rigs drilling in inland waters was unchanged at 1 unit for the week. The number of rigs drilling offshore increased by a single unit to 23.
US oil-directed rigs decreased by 7 from last week to reach 684 units. This time a year ago, 886 units were drilling for oil. Rigs targeting gas remained unchanged at 130 rigs, which was 65 fewer than were drilling for gas at this time a year ago.
Among the major oil and gas-producing states, New Mexico dropped the largest number of rigs. At 104 rigs running, the count is 4 fewer than the previous week. Texas dropped 3 rigs to reach 413 for the week.
North Dakota dropped a single rig to reach 51 rigs running.
Eight states remained unchanged this week, namely Louisiana, 56; Oklahoma, 51; Wyoming, 32; Pennsylvania, 25; Colorado, 24; Ohio, 11; West Virginia, 15; and Utah, 5.
Two states—California, 15, and Alaska, 8—were up by a single unit week over week.
Canada’s rig count decreased by 2 units for the week. At 140 rigs, the count is 56 fewer than the 196 units drilling this week a year ago. With 97 rigs drilling, Canada’s oil-directed rigs gained 4 units this week. Gas-directed rigs in Canada decreased by 6 units to reach 43.
