North American weekly rig count rises on Canadian oil, gas drilling

North American drilling activity increased the week ended Sept. 5, with a total of 718 rotary rigs working in the US and Canada, Baker Hughes officials reported Friday.

An increase in rigs in Canada led the uptick. With 181 rigs working in Canada, the count is 6 more than last week, but 39 fewer than this time last year.

Of the 6 additional rigs, 3 were oil-directed and 3 were gas-directed. Canada ended the week with 58 rigs drilling for gas, 9 fewer than this time last year. There were 123 oil-directed rigs working by the week's end, 29 fewer than this time a year ago.

With a total of 537 rigs working in the US and its waters, the count is up a single unit from the previous week and down 45 from a year ago. The number of rigs drilling on land increased by one unit to end the week at 522 rigs working. There were 2 rigs drilling in inland waters, unchanged from last week. Thirteen rigs were working offshore, unchanged from last week.

Two additional oil-directed rigs offset the one-rig loss in gas-directed rigs in the US this week. There were 414 units drilling for oil this week and 118 rigs drilling for gas. The oil rig count is down 69 units from this time last year, while the gas-directed rig count is up 24 from the year-ago period.

The rig count in Texas increased by 2 units, with a total of 243 rigs working at the week’s end. New Mexico’s rig count fell by 2 units, with a total of 93 units running to end the week.