US oil and gas drilling rig activity fell slightly this week with the loss of 7 rigs, bringing the total working rigs to 1,968. This week’s count, however, is up by 315 rigs from the comparable period a year ago, Baker Hughes Inc. reported.
Land rigs were down by 8 to 1,917 working. Offshore, the number of rigs was unchanged at 33 units. Inland waters activity gained 1 rig to 18.
Of the US rigs working, 1,064 were drilling for oil, down 5 compared with the previous week. Rigs drilling for natural gas declined by 3 rigs from the previous week to 895 for the week ended Sept. 2. There were 9 rotary rigs unclassified, up 1 unit from last week.
Directional drilling activity increased by 10 units to 238. Horizontal drilling lost 4 to 1,136 units.
Among the top producing US states, Louisiana had the biggest loss of rigs, down 6 units to 152 working. New Mexico had 86 rigs working, a decline of 2 units. Down 1 unit each were Colorado and California with respective counts of 75 and 48. Six states had unchanged rig counts: Oklahoma, 195; Pennsylvania, 113; Wyoming, 51; Arkansas, 32; West Virginia, 20; and Alaska, 7. North Dakota reached 180 rigs working, up 1; Texas gained 2 units to 898 making hole.
Canada’s count increased by 9 to 517 rotary rigs working, which is up 129 units from the 388 rigs working in the same period last year.
About the Author
Steven Poruban
Managing Editor-News
Steven Poruban was hired as staff writer for Oil & Gas Journal in October 1998. Two years later, he was promoted to senior staff writer. In October 2004, he was then promoted to senior editor. He now serves as managing editor-news.
Before working for OGJ, Steven was a reporter for Gas Daily and editor of Gas Transportation Report. He attended Boston University then transferred to and graduated from Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pa., with a BA in English in 1993.