US rig count takes a 10-rig tumble
US crude oil and natural gas drilling rig activity this week fell 10 units to reach a total of 2,013 rigs working. This week’s count is up, however, by 344 units from the comparable period a year ago, Baker Hughes Inc. reported.
Much of the loss was on land, with land-based rigs down 12 units to 1,959 drilling. The total of offshore rigs was up 1 unit to 36 working. Inland water rigs also gained 1 unit, to 18 units.
Of the US rigs working, 1,079 were drilling for oil, down 1 rig compared with a week ago. Rigs drilling for natural gas for the week ended Oct. 21 lost 9 units, to 927 rigs.
There were 7 rotary rigs unclassified, which was unchanged from last week.
Directional drilling activity lost 9 units to 241. Horizontal drilling lost as well, down 11 rigs to 1,142.
Among the top-producing US states, Colorado, at 80 units, was up 5 rigs from a week ago. Pennsylvania also gained, up 1 unit to 115. All unchanged from last week were: New Mexico, 83; California, 50; West Virginia, 27; and Alaska, 9. North Dakota, Wyoming, and Arkansas all were down 1 rig with respective counts of 189, 57, and 36. Texas was down 5 units to 910; Louisiana down 6 to 152; and Oklahoma down 7 to 190 this week.
Canada’s rig count lost 15 units to 497 rigs working, which was up 78 units from the same period last year.
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.
